NORTH East law firm Gordon Brown Associates has helped a builder and his partner to build a new venture.

Bill Turner and Amanda Matthews have bought Cards & Co, in Low Fell, with the help of lawyer Martin Donnelly, who is based at the firm’s Newcastle office in Hadrian House.

As well as helping Bill and Amanda to buy the business, Martin worked on their behalf to negotiate the lease agreement with the landlords of the Durham Road property.

Mr Turner said: “I looked at property, but the market was uncertain, so with low interest rates I decided to find an existing business to buy that would provide a good return on the inheritance.

“Christie & Co, the selling agents of the property, recommended Gordon Brown Associates and Martin has helped the deal to go through very smoothly.”

Ms Matthews has taken over the running of the business, while her partner continues in his job as a civil engineering supervisor.

Mr Donnelly said: “Cards & Co is a thriving business and while it is a change in direction for both Bill and Amanda, they have really grasped the reins and made a good start to life as business owners. We wish them well for the future.”

The group from the girls school was crowned Company of the Year after creating, marketing and selling Brightlife Books for the Young Enterprise North East competition.

The books – Ronny the Runnerbean and Sunny the Sunflower – both have an environmental and healthy eating message and were written, illustrated and produced by the year 12 students.

The group, which has the motto “Live the Rightlife, live the Brightlife”, has linked up with children’s book centre Seven Stories and has developed workshops with local schools.

Brightlife Books’ joint managing director Francesca Thornton said: “Undergoing the Young Enterprise North East programme has been the most rewarding thing we’ve ever done.

“We have all learnt valuable enterprise lessons and knowing that we have produced something that other people find to be a good product is fantastic.

“We are unbelievably excited to have won the top award at the regional final and cannot wait to represent the region at the grand final in London.

“All the hard work has paid off.”

Runner up was Cookii Doh – a group of Year 10 students from John Spence Community High School in North Shields – which produces t-shirts and hoodies with unique designs for the teenage market.

The enterprise has already attracted interest from men’s clothing company The Officers Club, Next and play.com.

Ever since the beginning of Durham Road Physiotherapy Clinic in 1997, Chris Ferguson has worked as the company owner, the physiotherapist and also completing anything else that was required, all with a little help from a few other individuals.  As a highly qualified physiotherapist, Chris was almost completing her job too well, with very few customers returning to the practise after completion of their programme due to complete healing of the injury and experiencing no reoccurrence.  Chris soon realised that the company needed to market itself to new customers and clients.

The vision Chris has for the company is to aim to help local companies within the North East to reduce costs of musculoskeletal disorders at work.  The objective was to educate organisations on how much each sickness period would cost, per employee, for musculoskeletal disorders, how these could be avoided through workplace assessments, and the services on offer to help an individual employee that suffers this kind of ailment.

Realising that this would require a great deal of marketing to create awareness within the local and surrounding areas, Chris approached Teesside University to see if they could support her through this difficult time.  Teesside University arranged interviews with some graduates for the position before deciding Andrew Reader, a graduate of MSc Marketing Management at the university, was the ideal candidate.  I was appointed within the organisation for a period of ten weeks, with the aim of raising the profile of the clinic; try to get Durham Road Physiotherapy Clinic a household name within organisations of the North East, to become the preferred referrer for all physiotherapy needs, and to increase the number of customers actually entering the clinic in need of Physiotherapy.  It was discussed that I could use the theoretical knowledge I had gained through my university degree and masters courses to meet these objectives.  This ten week graduate placement was beneficial for both Chris and me; Chris was provided with an individual with professional knowledge and an expertise in marketing, while I was provided with the unique opportunity to gain the essential experience that I had previously been unable to achieve to kick-start his career in the marketing world.

As a long term member of the DCM, a decision was made to produce a presentation highlighting the Clinic and the benefits it can offer to other DCM members at Hardwick Hall in Durham.  Having never prepared or delivered a public presentation before, this was the first hurdle that I had to overcome.  Although I have spent two years teaching in China; that seemed like ‘a walk in the park’ compared to what was facing me at this time.  Emails and telephone calls back-and-forth with Paul Lawton of DCM established what was required and what could possibly be expected.  A presentation was produced and the day of reckoning arrived.  Arriving at Hardwick Hall, I hunted around for some inspiration, however due to traffic problems, Paul was running late and was unable to provide any, so deep breathes were called for.  The event started, I drunk more and more water, and then it was time for the presentation.  Chris started by ensuring members were sat in their chairs correctly, illustrating that everybody had to imagine a helium balloon attached to their head, and members were encouraged to let it take their posture and to straighten their spine.  Once everyone was sat up straight and their attention was gained, it was time for the presentation.  All anxiety needed to be put at the back of my mind, and it was time to concentrate!  Thankfully, the presentation was a success, even with a little stutter halfway through.  After the event, some companies approached Chris asking her how Durham Road Physiotherapy Clinic could help their individual companies.

This is the start of the task that I was employed for, but there is still a long way to go, but at least it is a good start.  Durham Road Physiotherapy Clinic will be at the DCM event “Meet the Professionals” at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland on 26 May, please feel free to come along and say hello…you never know, we might be able to help you too!

Andrew Reader
Sales & Marketing
Durham Road Physiotherapy Clinic – 01642 896141

Networking guru unveils new look group

A Northumberland businessman, who plans to take his unique three-way networking organisation global has started by re-launching with a new name and new identity today (Wednesday).

From this afternoon, Dual Concept Marketing (DCM) will be known as ipnconnect. Owner, Paul Lawton launches the new name and brand today at one of his unique networking events today at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.

Many of ipnconnect’s near 200 members, along with a host of other North East business individuals,   will be there today to celebrate the launch of the new look organisation which arranges a number of different face-to-face and online opportunities to collaborate with other member organisations.

Today’s event is being sponsored by Gordon Brown Associates. Its head of business development is Amy Whyte. She said: “An organisation like this, which wants to see business connect with others in innovative, resourceful and successful ways is long overdue in the region.”

ipnconnect, whose other members include the likes of Lloyds TSB, Ward Hadaway and Newcastle Racecourse, aims to cap North East membership at 250 organisations initially and also introduce Universities and third sector organisations into the groups in order to generate further procurement and mutually beneficial opportunities.

Paul, aged 50, sold his house to help fund the project hopes the early success of the scheme will see the concept rolled out into other parts of the country and even further afield. The concept has attracted the interests of business organisations in Australia and, later this year, Paul hopes to help shape ipnconnect in Melbourne and Sydney through franchising out the concept. He heads out to Australia in November.

He predicts that by the end of 2012, more than 27,000 businesses will be members of ipnconnect across the UK and is aiming for more than 100,000 businesses worldwide. Paul said: “It’s been a rollercoaster ride getting to the stage we are at today in revealing the new identity. We have a groundswell of interest in this region and we are now very close to closing membership. The numbers need to be kept manageable in order for ipnconnect to make business happen for our members.”

ipnconnect offers a variety of different ways for its closely vetted members to connect, including bi-monthly exhibitions, monthly dinners and weekly gatherings, as well as a protected and secure online members’ discussion and procurement online forums.

Paul, a former Royal Engineer in the Army, says the system employs strict disciplines to ensure maximum benefits for members and has employed the services of North Tyneside-based IT and technology specialists Project Business to help create the online platforms.

Ends
Media information: Christian or Antonia at Quay2 Media on 0191 296 6800

A RACING boss is heading for pastures new after quitting his North East post.

Mark Spincer, executive director of Newcastle Racecourse, will leave the Gosforth course and conference venue in June.

But before the 40-year-old embarks on the next phase of his career, he will first oversee the showpiece occasion – the Northumberland Plate Festival – one last time.

Mr Spincer took over from former racecourse executive director David Williamson in 2008, who left to become operations director at Newcastle United.

He joined the company from the leisure industry, having worked for the Center Parcs holiday village company as food and beverage concept manager, where he was responsible for more than 50 outlets.

Since his appointment two years ago, Mr Spincer has seen the course’s many events grow in popularity, but no more so than Ladies Day, which last year attracted 25,000 people to the site. “I think my highlight was Ladies Day selling out last year for the first time in the modern-day history of the racecourse and the race group,” he said.

“It looks like we’re going to do the same this year as well as we’ve already sold 5,000 more tickets than this time last year.”

Also among his greatest achievements during his time at the helm of Newcastle Racecourse was raising thousands of pounds for charity.

The Spooky Fireworks Spectacular, held at the racecourse in October, brought in £10,000 for Cash for Kids, a local charity which helps disabled and disadvantaged children in the region.

Following his final day overseeing the Northumberland Plate, Mr Spincer will head to Yorkshire to take up a new role as managing director of Doncaster Racecourse.

“I’ve had a fantastic time here. The people have been brilliant,” he said.

“We’ve had our challenges, as everyone has, but it has been good.

“I’ve never worked anywhere where people are as friendly.

“One thing that Geordies do well is they give such a warm welcome and even challenges are dealt with in quite a positive way.

“They are a special kind of people and I’ll always value my time here.”

The Northumberland Plate Festival starts on June 24 with Seaton Delaval Trophy Day, followed by the Gosforth Park Cup Night and the John Smiths Northumberland Plate on June 26.

Young Enterprise is the UK’s leading enterprise education charity.  Together, we are building a connected world of young people (age 4 – 25), business volunteers and educators, inspiring each other to succeed through enterprise

Young Enterprise North East have some opportunities to get involved in their work within local schools

Below are a few of the current projects, more to follow:

Olympic Masterclass

Delaval Middle School, Blyth on 28^th June

(age 10-13 yrs)

The students will create a brand new sport, design the method of play, rules and the kit for the game as well as look at integrating it into the local community and promoting it as an Olympic sport. The day will culminate in the teams presenting and demonstrating their sports to a panel of judges.

Rollercoaster Masterclass

Redhouse Academy, Sunderland on 2^nd July

(age 11/12 yrs)

The Challenge aims to engage students by giving them the opportunity to take part in a day designed to promote entrepreneurial thinking through team work. The students will learn about the way business enterprise operates, undertake tasks and activities set in the context of a theme park and engage with ideas, challenges and applications from the business world. They will work in groups of 6 students and will be mentored by their teacher and business advisers. There is a Rollercoaster simulator throughout the day which the students design their rollercoaster and make a prototype of.

Enterprise in Action

John Spence High School, North Shields

(6 x 1 hour sessions, age 12/13 yrs June/July-timetable available)

This programme gives students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of the highs and lows, risks and rewards of working in a team to make and promote a prototype product.  It also places strong emphasis on IT learning as students link to the Enterprise in Action website at the end of each session to record their company’s progress.

For further information on how getting involved can benefit you and your business please contact:

Alison Gittins

Corporate Relations Officer

Young Enterprise North East

Alison Gittins Alison.gittins@yene.org.uk

www.yene.org.uk

T: 0191 4959500

M: 07739 524979

Mar 24 2010 by Lindsey Mussett

A CHARITY which helps vulnerable women transform their lives has received a boost after a businesswoman “donated” herself to the cause for eight weeks.

Christine York will join Stockton-based A Way Out to help it launch a new project creating a network of influential women. It is envisaged that passionate, dynamic and influential women will join together to have a significant impact across the region.

Christine, 42, from Stockton, who runs people development company Ambition Academy, has been part funded by the Vodafone Foundation to set up the project with Jessie Jacobs, award-winning founder of A Way Out.

Having encountered the life-changing work of A Way Out, Christine donated some of her professional time to coach its clients in 2008, then in November last year, she was encouraged by Jessie to enter the Vodafone Foundation’s Donate Yourself To Charity competition and won one of 500 placements.

The funding will allow Christine to join Jessie to work on the establishment of the Women of Influence network.

Jessie said: “Women of Influence is all about identifying those women in the area who have the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of other women and young people in the Tees Valley area. We will be carefully selecting and inviting various women of influence to join the movement, some may be people you have heard about in the media, or they could be people who go under the radar but are in positions where they can make an impact.

“There is no current network for this in the Tees Valley and I think it is vital that we bring such people together.”

The initial process will involve bringing together a group of around 10 women to be pioneers of the network, they will then chose and invite other women to become members.

It is hoped the project could bring exciting opportunities to women involved with the network, including media publicity, visits to women’s projects in other countries, high profile and exclusive fundraising events, and challenging sponsorship activities.

Christine added: “I first met Jessie when I was looking for a charity to donate some pantomime theatre tickets to. I was impressed by her passion and drive for A Way Out and also her excellent business savvy and I asked her how else we could help.

“Jessie has made a real difference to the lives of people through her work in the region and I am convinced there are many more like her in Tees Valley.”