The Oyster Festival is being held on Friday 10th September at Hardwick Hall.

Click here for all information and booking options.

or contact Kelly, Lauren or Rebecca on 01740 620253

Just 50 days after it was born, ipnconnect has held a members event to celebrate reaching 200 members.
And in a mixed economy, when the business world is reeling from an election, a hung parliament and a radical new budget, all on the back of the recession, ipnconnect seems to be answering the needs of many of the business people in the region.
Attended by over 100 of the region’s prominent business people including Bill Midgley, OBE, who is working closely in support of ipnconnect, the drinks evening at ‘As You Like It’ in Jesmond, was sponsored by some of the youngest members including dovcor, stereografix and sms events.
With 250 initial memberships, only a fifth of the places are left, at which point founder Paul Lawton will be closing membership until he is confident that the collaborative platform is working efficiently for its initial members.
Unlike the more traditional networking organisation, ipnconnect is keen to work with affiliate membership bodies, even naming a few of them amongst its membership. With ipnconnect’s offering being so different, Paul says it makes sense to work together, rather than against each other.
ipnconnect offers a variety of different ways for its closely vetted members to connect, including bi-monthly exhibitions, monthly dinners and regular interactive gatherings, as well as offering a members only online website with a protected procurement platform inside.
Paul 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.
He said: “It’s been a rollercoaster ride launching ipnconnect and it’s very gratifying to see the response we have got.  So much so, that we are very close to the initial intake of 250 members until the membership is satisfied with this unique model and so are we. The numbers need to be kept manageable in order for ipnconnect to make business happen for our members, so we are monitoring the number of spaces for memberships in growth stages.”
Chris Jones, of IMPACT Plus (Goal Set), one of the newest members, said:
“I just want to say what a great event the ipnconnect one was. I’ve not been a great fan of networking in the past – in fact I’d come to dislike it intensely – but the ipnconnect approach does work, and it fits in nicely with my beliefs about working together to tap the abundant opportunities out there.  We got some excellent leads from our first event, which we’ll be following up quickly with further discussions.”
Claire Walton, Strategic Change Solutions, is a new member too and is quickly becoming a fan:
“There are many networking organisations you can choose to join for lots of different reasons. I have joined ipnconnect because there is so much choice for how and when I can meet up with likeminded people who genuinely want to help each other.  I have 3 clients through ipnconnect already!”
More information is available by visiting www.ipnconnect.com / 0191 2566235.  PR queries to Antonia@quay2Media.com

Raid your attic and garages for vintange technology to be displayed at our Summer BBQ and Technology Exhibition. If you don’t have any retro tech, we’d still love you to come along for free food, drink and Megadrive games.

Lisa Smith, manager at Big Ideas, said “We have been amazed by the response, it would seem that almost everyone has an old Gameboy, a Spectrum 48K or a Megadrive lurking somewhere in their house. We even had some 60’s and 70’s kitchen equipment donated, but we know there is so much more out there and would urge people to come forward and contact us about putting their own technology items on show.”

To register or for more information contact marketing@ne-bic.co.uk or visit www.ne-bic.co.uk

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.”

Last chance for business collaboration before summer break .

A successful independent collaboration organisation is holding the last of its networking events before the summer, and is offering the chance for business individuals and organisations a free chance to ‘meet the professionals’.
Ipnconnect, which relaunched under its new identity earlier this month, holds its last Meet The Professionals  networking event before the summer holidays and ipnconnect owner, Paul Lawton says the event, on Wednesday July 7th at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, gives people a great chance to make some quality connections.
Ipnconnect, which has members including Lloyds TSB, Ward Hadaway and ROK, offers a variety of different ways for its closely vetted private, public and third-sector members to connect. It includes bi-monthly exhibitions, monthly dinners and weekly gatherings, as well as a protected and secure online members’ discussion and online procurement forums.

The Meet The Professionals event, which starts at 12noon, offers non-members a free chance to meet some of ipnconnect’s members.  Already confirmed to be exhibiting at the event, sponsored by Diamond are Gordon Brown Associates, Young Enterprise and the North East Property Forum.

ipnconnect managing director, Paul Lawton, says: “This event offers the perfect insight into what we are trying to achieve with this organisation. We have no public funding and we are doing this purely for the benefit of the North East business community. This is becoming the most dynamic networking platform the region has ever seen’.
“The plan is to cap membership at 250 so all members get a fantastic chance to work closely with one another. We are very close to that cap now, so there are just a few places left for business organisations or individuals to apply.”
Amy Whyte, business development manager of Gordon Brown Associates 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. We have done some fantastic business through relationships we simply would not have developed without being members.”

Paul Lawton, who has ambitious plans to spread the concept he has created in the North East, 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. He has already been invited to discuss his concept with businesses and business organisations in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia.

To register for attendance on July 7th, contact ipnconnect on 0191 256 6253.
Ends
Media information: Christian or Antonia at Quay2 Media on 0191 296 6800

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