Survival of the Fittest

Survival of the Fittest

As part of his growing ‘Streetlife’ offer, Matt Stirland is currently developing his first ‘Survival of the Fittest’ challenge for North East businesses.

Businesses across the region are being invited to enter teams of 10 people who will use Matt’s ‘Lifepod’ to track their physical activity and monitor their progress.

Obviously, anyone who takes part will see the benefit of increased energy levels, mental sharpness and all round performance in their jobs (as well as probably adding a few years to their life expectancy) and there’s a great prize on offer for the winning team.

Matt’s already signed up teams from a number of the region’s Primary Care Trusts and regional development agency One NorthEast.

We’ve agreed to enter at least one ‘ifwecanyouncan’ team – assuming we can find enough members to volunteer. We’ll pay the entry fee – all you need to do is get active (we know you’re all busy. Angus Thirlwell of Hotel Chocolat told us that one of his secrets of success was keeping fit and you’d never guess that he tastes every single new product they produce!)
If you're interested in being part of the 'ifwecanyoucan' team email stephen@entrepreneursforum.net

Fisherman's Lodge Sets Hearts On Fire

Fisherman's Lodge Sets Hearts On Fire

There was a rather unique gift on the menu for guests of a Tyneside restaurant this Valentine’s Day – a flying love lantern.

The Fisherman’s Lodge restaurant in Jesmond, Newcastle, gave each couple that dined in the restaurant on Valentine’s night (14th February) their own specially-commissioned flying love lantern to really set their hearts on fire.

Once lit, the heart-shaped lantern’s can lift off the ground and drift through air.

Jocelyn Maxfield of the Fisherman’s Lodge said: “This year we really wanted to treat guests by giving them a romantic reminder of their evening with us and let their love soar into the sky with the Fisherman’s Lodge this Valentine's Day.

“The lantern itself is flame proof and biodegradable, so there was no need to worry about your romantic gesture crashing to the ground in flames or spending the rest of eternity on the floor.”

The Fisherman’s Lodge’s sister company, Serenity in the City spa, also in Jesmond, launched a range of special Valentine’s couples-only treatments.

For more information visit http://www.fishermanslodge.co.uk/3 and http://www.serenityinthecity.com/.

Read Tom Maxfield's inspirational story by clicking www.ifwecanyoucan.co.uk/entrepreneurs/Tom-Maxfield

If we can, you can Celebration event

If we can, you can Celebration event

The whole ethos of the ‘If we can, you can’ campaign is about inspiration and collaboration. ‘If we can Celebrate you can’ which was held recently at As You Like It in Jesmond, was no different, with many of the businesses involved in the campaign taking part, from the organisation to the catering, to supplying these fantastic pics and capturing what was a truly fantastic evening

We wanted to show that we are determined to go into the new year on a positive note, and get off to a flying start when we launch the ‘If we can, you can Challenge’ for 2009 in March. And of course, say a massive thank you to the people who have made ‘If we can, you can’ possible- the inspirational entrepreneurs of the North East.

So, in the words of the new Entrepreneurs’ Forum Tom Maxfield, collectively we can ensure that the entrepreneurial spirit in the North East continues to shine brightly.

Here are just a few pics from the night...can we just say a very special thank you to all the businesses who showcased on the night.

Look out for the video of the event on YouTube soon!

PR Company Helps Businesses O-volve

PR Company Helps Businesses O-volve

O Communications, the Newcastle-based public relations agency behind some of the region’s top business profiles, has launched a range of new media packages called Ovolution.

Now launched via its social media websites, including its own YouTube channel, Ovolution is designed to help North East companies revolutionise their dialogue with customers and embrace the world of social media and Online PR.

Already in high demand with the agency’s current clients, the services range from creating a popular blog that attracts a following to creating a Facebook or MySpace page for a business. O Communications will also design and populate clients’ own YouTube channel for video news and create entire online media rooms for businesses large or small.

If we can, you can member Kari Owers, managing director of O Communications said: “We’ve known for some time that we wanted to integrate more new media services to our PR campaigns, as it’s clear that this is the way that the modern business world is going.

“Newspapers, TV and radio are all heading online, citing their web presence as of equal importance to their future as their offline products. Reporters are now MMJs (multi-media journalists), breaking news is more commonly watched on a computer than a telly and companies can now produce and share their own TV channels.

“Web video, VNRs (video news releases), blogging and vlogging, podcasting, vodcasting, social networking, online newsrooms and webcasts - the potential to reach your customers has never been more exciting.”

As well as its in-house capabilities that includes two highly trained video journalists, a top blog writer and in-house web design function for building social media sites, O Communications has even drafted in the help of ITV personality Kim Inglis, to provide any voiceover work on the in-house produced videos and podcasts if required and to deliver media training for camera-shy business owners.

“For business owners not sure where to start, we’re offering a free online PR training session if they feel they would like one, demonstrating how we have already helped clients branch out and reach their customers online,” added Kari.

To watch the Ovolution launch video news release logo onto www.youtube.com/user/ovolutiontube3 -or- www.myspace.com/ocommunications

Read about Kari's journey with O Communications so far by clicking www.ifwecanyoucan.co.uk/entrepreneurs/Kari-Owers

Crossover: 4IP: March 2nd – 4th 2009

Crossover: 4IP: March 2nd – 4th 2009

We thought this might be of interest to some of you?
A unique opportunity to generate and develop ideas for Channel 4’s 4iP scheme.

Crossover is a unique series of 'innovation labs' designed to explore and invent new media forms. Each lab fosters new collaborations between talented and experienced professionals across different creative industries, sparking ideas for innovative media content and services on new, digital platforms.

Crossover 4IP is a three-day creative incubator for people based in the North East. It will be devoted to developing projects for new forms of participatory, public service media which could be supported by 4iP. The lab will bring together people from a range of disciplines to invent ideas for content and services for public service media on new platforms; projects which have real public value, will have significant impact and are sustainable.

Over the three days, participants will work with a team of expert mentors in a series of activities designed to develop conceptual prototypes for groundbreaking interactive projects. At the end of the three day lab, a number of projects will be selected for further development and seed funding and given the opportunity to pitch for further investment at the 4iP launch in the North East on March 25th.

To find out about 4iP go to www.4IP.org.uk

For further information and to apply to Crossover 4IP and to apply, please download an application form from www.northernmedia.org