'If we can, you can' blog

Fledgling internet firm bolstered by funding

2011-03-07T01:04:00.000-08:00

A digital project on Teesside which aims to transform the way businesses market themselves on the internet has secured £500,000 in funding.

Middlesbrough-based ibod - or intelligent business on demand - provides free business search engines, social networking and advertising for charities, SMEs and corporate organisations.

The business has already created eight new jobs and is expected to add a further 20 staff in the coming year in the fields of sales and technology.

The venture has emerged from three years of research and development buoyed by £500,000 in financial backing and on target to generate £12m in turnover over the next four years.

ibod was the brainchild of marketing expert Kevin Robinson and IT specialist Haniff Din who have spent the last three years developing the technology with a team of experts.

According to its founders, the venture is already attracting global interest and could eventually become a rival to online empires such as Google, Yell and Yahoo.

Mr Robinson said: “We believe that this is the first British-led business search engine of its kind that supports and helps local small businesses and social enterprises.

“We have a passionate team of investors, who totally believe in developing ibod, and an incredibly committed team that is continually developing new products which are already attracting interest from around the world.

“Despite offers to re-locate to other areas ibod is and always will be a North East business which has the potential to create many new jobs for local people in the coming years.”

The £500,000 in financial backing it has received has come from several North East sources including Thornaby haulage business Scott Bros, Newcastle venture capitalist company NorthStar Equity Investors, Cal2 Fire and Security in Middlesbrough and Stockton-based commercial lawyers the Endeavour Partnership.

Digital Media Consulting in Middlesbrough and Hartlepool accountants and business advisors, Waltons Clark Whitehill, have also backed the firm.

ibod is a free service which allows businesses and charities to use internet marketing more effectively and more easily to build closer relationships with customers and develop their brand to attract new markets.

All users get their own free networking website which can be customised and used as a promotional and sales tool. Members will also benefit from forums where they can exchange ideas and contacts.

Revenue will be generated through advertising from larger businesses and offering cost effective web design and search engine optimisation services.

Story courtesy of www.bdaily.info

Compete For New Business.

2011-03-03T02:34:00.001-08:00

Inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games.

Thursday March 10^th 2011. 07:30 – 10:30. Darlington Football Club.

Business Link are hosting an event which will help small businesses in the North East to understand what business opportunities there are related to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, how to access them and how to respond to the contract opportunities.

Hear directly from the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and discover how to access the billions of pounds worth of work and thousands of new business opportunities arising from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Crossrail and other large projects.

Join us on Thursday March 10^th at Darlington Football Club to find out how to take advantage of these opportunities for your business.

CompeteFor is the official portal for contracting opportunities linked to the London 2012 Games and also to Crossrail.

Are you registered on CompeteFor?

Do you want to discover how to make the most of CompeteFor and find real opportunities for your business?

Join Compete North East and Chris Bell, Buyer Engagement Manager from the Olympic

Delivery Authority, for a short breakfast session on Thursday 10th March to discover:

What CompeteFor is and how to register:

How to create an effective profile on CompeteFor
How to find real business opportunities for your organisation
How to respond to different types of contract opportunities
What happens after you respond to a contract opportunity

Tickets are now available for the event at just £25+VAT per person. For further information or to book your place, please call 0191 281 5777, email karen@btob.co.uk

Compete For New Business.

2011-03-03T02:34:00.000-08:00

Inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games.

Thursday March 10^th 2011. 07:30 – 10:30. Darlington Football Club.

Join us on Thursday March 10^th at Darlington Football Club to find out how to take advantage of these opportunities for your business.

CompeteFor is the official portal for contracting opportunities linked to the London 2012 Games and also to Crossrail.

Are you registered on CompeteFor?

Do you want to discover how to make the most of CompeteFor and find real opportunities for your business?

Join Compete North East and Chris Bell, Buyer Engagement Manager from the Olympic

Delivery Authority, for a short breakfast session on Thursday 10th March to discover:

What CompeteFor is and how to register:

How to create an effective profile on CompeteFor
How to find real business opportunities for your organisation
How to respond to different types of contract opportunities
What happens after you respond to a contract opportunity

Tickets are now available for the event at just £25+VAT per person. For further information or to book your place, please call 0191 281 5777, email karen@btob.co.uk

R&B Group brings science to life

2011-03-02T02:32:00.000-08:00

Events, production and communication specialist, R&B Group arrived back home in Newcastle this week, to complete the last in a series of high profile science events.

R&B Group were contracted by client Education Live, to provide AV and production support for the events, aimed at inspiring GCSE students to take up careers in Science.

The nationwide programme, starting back in November of last year in Leicester, has seen R&B Group travel over 5000 miles, battling through some of the worst weather to hit the UK in years, in order to deliver the 13 road show style events throughout the country.

Presentations were delivered to some 20,000 school children by some of the UK's top scientists including Lord Robert Winston.

During each session, scientists each presented their cutting-edge research to the 15-16 year old students, demonstrating how science offers solutions to some of the world's greatest problems.

Barry Fox, R&B Group Director comments "It was fantastic to be awarded the contract for a second year. It's a great series of events. The weather did create an added challenge but we look forward to the autumn programme which begins in November".

Daniel Powell, Director Education Live "The work of R&B Group is essential to these events, which aim to engage young audiences in Science. We ask some of the world's most eminent scientists to speak to GCSE students, which is a good start. But, the great audio and visual set-up provided by R&B Group makes very good lectures into unforgettable ones."

Record Start To The Year For Software Company

2011-03-02T02:29:00.000-08:00

South Shields-based software firm DEF Software has had a successful start to the year, achieving record sales amounting almost £300,000 in one month.

Despite the current economic climate DEF Software achieved a record month in January in sales of expert software to newly acquired public sector clients across the UK.

The new contracts include wins with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Norfolk County Council, Gloucester City Council and Eastbourne Borough Council.

The software contracts include DEF software systems for local authority planning, which helps improve efficiency of the planning application process; highways response, developed for highways development officers controlling work flow from initial request to final response; and building control, aiding building inspections

The young business has seen great success from the outset and quickly set up sister company DEF Apps servicing the private sector, meaning DEF is now working lucratively in both sectors.

DEF Software founder David Frame said: "We are very proud to have had such a successful start to 2011 as we move into our third year of trading.

"The business we have had in January alone has put us well ahead of our target turnover for 2011 / 2012 of £1m.

"We have continued to expand our reach across the UK with our highly beneficial software in the public sector which is how we have managed to clock up such strong sales in our first month. We are now starting our financial year with an order book just shy of £900,000.

"It is pleasing to see this achievement is from all-new clients, which demonstrates our strength of reputation is growing within local authority circles.

"DEF Apps has also taken off alongside very productively within the private sector and I believe we are well within reach of meeting the two businesses' combined target of £6m by 2015."

Orange Bus Takes New Sage Accountancy Website Live

2011-03-02T02:25:00.000-08:00

Creative digital agency Orange Bus has successfully completed the design and build of a website for an online subscription-based service for accounting software giant Sage.

Sage One is aimed at sole-traders and start-ups with a hosted software package sold on a monthly subscription as a secure, simple and low-cost way to manage finances. Business owners can work on invoices and VAT returns, and assess their business performance in the office or at home remotely.

Orange Bus won the competitive tender to carry out the design and build of the site, which provides a high volume of help and advice articles across all of its products. It was essential to make the site athttp://www.sageone.com/ as accessible and easy to navigate as possible to allow users to find answers online rather than via the call centre.

Julian Leighton, director at Orange Bus, says one of the keys to success with the project has been the huge emphasis on user experience: "We're delighted with the finished product but what is most exciting is to see business owners are already using it easily and effectively - and in the ways we expected they would.

"It was imperative to the success of Sage One that we effectively structure the content of the online help centre and this is a perfect example of where our user experience knowledge comes into its own."

Orange Bus continues to win prestigious contracts off the back of its specialism in both user experience and interface design, and on the strength of its creative input, strategic insights and delivery.

The firm, which recently expanded into bigger premises on Newcastle's Quayside, has an enviable client list including global names such as Barclays, Tommee Tippee, Family Lives (formerly Parentline) and most recently, international media, publishing and education company Pearson.

Simon Black, managing director of Sage Online, said: "The launch of Sage One is a significant addition to Sage's online software and services. What's most exciting about it is the feedback from our beta customers - we're providing a real boost to their business and enabling them to manage their accounts in a way that suits them.

"That's why we believe Sage One will meet and exceed the expectations of a new generation of sole traders, small businesses and entrepreneurs that see the web as a natural way to work."

Sage One marketing manager, Michael Barber, said: The guys at Orange Bus really know their stuff. We set out to deliver a great customer experience with Sage One and the work Orange Bus contributed helps us do that."

NEA2F Publish Second Access To Finance Guide

2011-03-02T02:21:00.000-08:00

Over 200 key figures from across the region gathered at the Centre for Life in Newcastle, for the launch of the second Access to Finance Guide produced by North East Access to Finance (NEA2F).

The 2011 Guide was introduced by Chairman, Hugh Morgan Williams OBE and guest speakers at the event were Sir Ian Wrigglesworth, Deputy Chairman of the Government's Regional Growth Fund and Rory Earley, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Capital for Enterprise Ltd.

Reflecting on what many have seen as a challenging year for business, Hugh Morgan Williams said "I cannot believe that it is almost a year since our first Access to Finance Guide was published in 2010. Since then, it has become an indispensable tool for fund managers, accountants and corporate finance lawyers as they seek to guide their clients through the complex web of finance initiatives both within the North East and beyond."

"SMEs (small and medium enterprises) have also benefited by having all the important information and contact details in a handy sized booklet that is duplicated on our website www.nea2f.co.uk

"Accessing finance has not got easier for SMEs during 2010. Whilst the Finance for Business funds are beginning to get to grips with financing growth businesses with equity solutions, there remains a problem for companies accessing traditional debt finance; both on demand overdraft and term loans from the high street banks."

"During the year, some of the main lenders assembled a £1.5 billion pound fund to help businesses with sales of more than £10 million pounds, but there remains a significant issue for the majority of companies beneath that threshold. Often the businesses are new, without a track record, or significant tangible assets to pledge against lending propositions from the banks that have become increasingly difficult to access for this sector."

"Nationally, the Enterprise Finance Guarantee has helped, but most businesses appear to find the security requirements onerous and the costs high. There remains a need for loan funds that target companies that the banks deem do not meet their credit criteria."

"Since the General election in May 2010 there have been a number of significant changes in the sources of money to help our stock of SMEs. Badly hit have been grant schemes that have practically disappeared from the Access to Finance guide. The main newcomer, of course, is the Regional Growth Fund which aims to help meet this Government's ambition to rebalance the economy. In addition this year, we have included a section on business support listing the main providers of help and assistance to SMEs."

Morgan Williams went on to say, "Here at NEA2F we are working on a number of schemes that we think will help business in the North East, and we will be announcing details of these throughout 2011. Of course, any changes will be reflected on our dynamic web site www.nea2f.co.uk, and we will be emailing our data base of regional contacts with regular updates."

Sir Ian Wrigglesworth, Deputy Chair of the Regional Growth fund, outlined the issues around access to finance for the region through the RGF and Rory Earley, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Capital for Enterprise set the regional scene in the context of the national picture in terms and funding for business.

*The Regional Growth Fund, which only applies to England, will operate for over 3 years from 2011 to 2014. The RGF is a £1.4bn challenge Fund, which has two objectives:

(1) To encourage private sector enterprise by providing support for projects with significant potential for economic growth and create additional sustainable private sector employment; and

(2) To support in particular those areas and communities that are currently dependent on the public sector make the transition to sustainable private sector led growth and prosperity.

**Capital for Enterprise Limited (‘CfEL') is the Government's principal centre of knowledge, expertise and information on the design, implementation and management of finance measures to support Small and Medium Size enterprises (‘SMEs') across the UK.

· North East Access to Finance.pdf [4.8MB]

Special Offer to If We Can You Can Members

2011-02-28T06:55:00.000-08:00

If We Can You Can member, Glynis Jeffries has a special offer open to members. Neuro-Linguistic Programming Is becoming increasingly popular within business due to the great success people have had whilst using the techniques.

We have a great opportunity for you to come along to Beamish Hall Hotel contact to experience a free taster session by Glynis Jeffries who is the director of Thinking Success UK and licensed by Dr Richard Bandler the co-creator of NLP.

This Unique opportunity will take you through how NLP can be used to enhance you and your business. The topics covered will be:
• Building great relationships with clients, contacts and employees to maximise every interaction.
• Having a clear direction for both you and your colleagues.
• Coaching for performance
• Language skills – using language effectively to maximise communication to all.
• There will be also a question and answer session with Glynis during and after the event.

The sessions will run from 6.30pm until 8.30pm with coffee after the event on both the 28th of March 2011 and again on April 21st 2011.

If you are interested in attending or finding out any more information, then please contact Glynis at info@thinkingsuccessuk.co.uk

Two IWCYC Unplugged Events for March

2011-02-17T08:35:00.000-08:00

Here at 'If we can, you can' we are doing what we do best and shouting out loud about you guys, what we do and why those running their own businesses in the North East need to be part of our community, if they aren't already!

'If we can, you can' is all about promoting the growth of entrepreneurship in the region by sharing all of your experiences and knowledge. So we've hooked up with the Federation of Small Businesses and Newcastle Business Forums to put on not just one, but TWO great events in March for you!

The first of the two events will see us try out a slightly different format of event, away from the usual Unplugged events.

Inspired by If We Can You Can member Mike Bell's "Knowledge Cafe" events we invite you to co-create brilliant conversation about innovation and growth.

Conversation Question – ‘Why is innovation necessary for growth?’
When: Wednesday 9th March. 6.00 for 6.30 – 8.30pm.

Where: Kaffeccinos Coffee House, 54-56 Grainger Street, NE1 5JG. Buy your own drinks. Food will be provided.

To book on to either of the events, or for more information then email Will or call on 0191 226 7488.

Imagine joining three or four people at a Café-style table or in a small conversation cluster to explore questions where collaborative thinking can really make a difference. Nearby, other small groups are exploring similar questions and noting down key insights and perspectives. Soon, you move to another group or Café table, visit with new people, and cross-pollinate new ideas and insights. As the conversations connect, they spark new discoveries.

Innovative opportunities begin to appear. Collective knowledge grows and evolves. A sense of a larger whole becomes real, and the wisdom of the group emerges for all to experience.

When we engage each other in dialogue we enter into a conversation with a view to learn from each other rather than impose our views on the other.

The evening will be facilitated by "Mutual Inspiration CIC's" Mike Bell and we hope it will spark off its very own series of events with the discussion developing as we go!

The second event of the month returns to the familiar Unplugged format to discuss the issues faced when looking to take on your first employee or even your 250th.

Joining us on the panel will be Joanna Feeley, Emily Pitkethly and Jonathan Wadewho between them have a wealth of varied experience when it comes to taking on employees and growing the business.

Date: Tuesday 29th March
Time: 5:00 registration for 5:30pm start. 8pm finish.
Venue: Bewick Hall, Newcastle Central Library. NE1 8AX

Jonathan Wade started up Neuro Partners with two friends and began operating with just the three of them in January 2006. Five year's later, they have just taken on their 250th employee and now have offices in Newcastle, Cumbria, Yorkshire and Lancashire, showing phenomenal growth.

Joanna Feeley and Emily Pitkethly have very different experiences when it came to taking on their first employees. Both Joanna and Emily found that their workloads were increasing as the business grew, so taking on staff seemed the only sensible way to give them their time back to work on the business. However Emily soon found that she was spending just as much time managing her staff, and so had no more time than before to work on the business. Joanna’s workload was drastically improved by taking on board her first member of staff, but a new challenge arose in defining exactly what her own role should now be!

Having met through the If We Can You Can Challenge, Joanna and Emily who both work in design, have taken on interns and graduates and even allow their staff to cross over and work within each other’s companies to in a bid to share and enhance their knowledge and experiences as well as appreciate how other similar organisations work in their sector.

Come and join us for this informal evening event to hear from a broad range of experiences, and be inspired, energised and full of ideas to take back to your own business.

To book on to either of the above events, or for more information then email Will or call on 0191 226 7488.

Places are limited, and also open to guests as well as the member database of the FSB and Newcastle Business Forums, so please make sure to book early to avoid disappointment.

Expansion to Big Apple for Trend Bible

2011-02-16T01:47:00.000-08:00

Forecasting trend specialists Trend Bible is reaping the fruits of its labour by branching out to the Big Apple where it has established a presence in the heart of Manhattan.

Following the success of a string of national and international contract wins, the boutique trend consultancy, based in Heaton, has entered into a strategic relationship with merchandising consultant and trend forecasting company The Doneger Group, to broaden its exposure in the US market.

Trend Bible already boasts an international client list including US home interiors specialist Pottery Barn on its client list along with TK Maxx, JCPenney, Wal-Mart and Macy’s department store.

Founder and creative director of Trend Bible Joanna Feeley, 35, said: “We have reached a point in our business now where we are ready to create new opportunities after working hard to establish a solid business and reputation in the UK.

“There is obviously something about what we do that appeals greatly to US retailers. Out of the 18 countries we supply our Trend Bible to we sell more of our books in the US than anywhere else in the world.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for Trend Bible, despite the lingering effects of the recession, the type of forward thinking companies we’re working with are still ambitious for growth, so having a presence in New York puts us in a better position to work with more home interior retailers across the US.”

‘Deadgood’ future for North East company

2011-02-16T01:37:00.000-08:00

Having won contracts with the BBC and Phillips, a North East furniture design company is making ambitious plans for expansion creating 3 jobs in the process.

Newcastle based Deadgood is looking to more than double its workforce after seeing demand for two of its main products soar.

In addition to its base in Newcastle’s city centre, the furniture designers have opened up a new office in the capital as part of its growth strategy.

Elliot Brook, Managing Director at Deadgood, said: “We’re really excited about creating new jobs.

“It’s always been part of our strategy to grow the business by brining in specilist human resources and this is a exciting step for us to be able to bring these people on board.”

“Very recently we just opened up an office in London which in the next 12 months will act as a showroom for us to promote ourselves directly to new markets in the capital.”

Meanwhile, the firm has recently won a high value contract to supply the new BBC offices in Salford with two of their main collections - the upholstered lounge chair (Love chairs) and laminated plywood stools (Form stool).

The firm has also secured contracts to have their products sold in some of the world’s major furniture retail outlets including, Liberty of London, La Rinascente in Milan and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong.

Mr Brook added: “ We’re really excited to be winning the type of projects that we are now starting to see to come thorough.

“It’s great to be seen to be working with these high profile clients and competing with some of the more established industry players.”

Story courtesy of http://www.bdaily.info

PostGraduate Toolbox Ltd launches new site to support Masters and PhD Graduates looking to find jobs in the commercial sector.

2011-02-14T03:13:00.000-08:00

PostGraduate Toolbox Ltd launches new site to support Masters and PhD Graduates looking to find jobs in the commercial sector.

www.linkhigher.com is the newest offering from the Durham based company, specialising in Postgraduate support services. Designed and built on research with large employers such as GE, Barclays Capital and BT, LinkHigher will provide companies with direct access to a fantastic talent pool of future employees.

LinkHigher already offers a network of 17,000+ Masters and PhD level candidates and a contact base of 3000+ individuals in Graduate and Careers services across the UK and overseas. For the launch phase, the site and its services will be offered on a trial basis to a range of companies. As part of the trial companies can upload full company profiles, specific job vacancies, advertise graduate schemes and future recruitment plans.

Business Relationship Manager for the site Chris Colegate commented that “This is an exciting time for the business as we approach the Launch, we have developed some excellent relationships in the commercial sector already in 2011 and feedback for the site has been great, we are now looking to broaden this pool of Employer contacts and trial www.linkhigher.com across a range of industry sectors, working with SME’s and Blue-Chip’s.

"There are a number of jobsites on offer to companies when they look to recruit, however for specific requirements where businesses want to tap into top-tier Masters and PhD Graduates the LinkHigher service is new and innovative and will offer something different."

To discuss www.linkhigher.com and the free-trial on offer please contact Chris Colegate, Business Relationship Manager on 07825001189.

Slotzz iPad cases Win Grand Idea Award

2011-02-07T03:13:00.000-08:00

Slotzz, a bespoke iPad, iPhone and MacBook case manufacturer based in Newcastle, UK, is one of this month’s Shell Live Wire Grand Ideas award winners. The Live Wire scheme is sponsored by oil giant Shell and aims at developing early stage businesses run by young entrepreneurs by giving them the chance at grabbing a £1000 cash injection.

Young entrepreneurs Simon Barker and Leonie Cunnington pitched their latest business development idea for Slotzz in last months Live Wire video pitches. They already make one of the worldʼs most unique and customised cases and now they intend to add monogramming and branding services to their offering.

Cunnington explains how the business works: “Each case is made to order, using our unique online design studio you can interactively design and visualise your case before ordering.”

“Many customers have been asking about extra personalisation options beyond the material choices recently so we have been exploring monogramming options. Weʼve found something that works fantastically well and we will use this money to push it to market.” Barker said when explaining how the money will be used.

Trend Bible have cited 2011 as the year of handcrafted British products and Cunnington says they are certainly feeling the effects of this trend. As predicted customers are searching for high end unique British products to take the place of the mass produced far eastern imports seen in recent years. Slotzz certainly fill this niche and with the option of monogramming they offer a unique product.

It appears that they have had many requests for branding opportunities for high end corporate gifts and merchandise so the money will be used to expand this new and unique aspect of the business. Both of these young entrepreneurs believe that Shell Live Wire is a fantastic opportunity for young entrepreneurs and encourage people to apply:

“Even if you donʼt win itʼs a fantastic scheme and the contacts you make are great” said Barker.

Better Investment In Local Talent

2011-02-07T02:50:00.000-08:00

Award-winning brand agency, Better, has appointed Ryan Crawford as a Junior Designer.

Ryan, 22 of Trimdon Grange, recently graduated from Teesside University with a first class honours degree in Graphic Design. After leaving University Ryan enrolled on 10 week Graduate Internship Programme before joining the team full time.

Ryan will work alongside the agency's Creative Director, Peter Jones, on brand, creative and print design projects and has already worked with the team on a number of recent projects. Ryan joins a team that has grown from the original 3 founders in 2008 to a powerful mix of 8 individuals specialising in digital and creative.

Mark Easby, Managing Director of Better said ‘Ryan joining our team is indicative of our growth over the last 24 months. He joins us to become part of Better's studio team capable of delivering highly creative results for our clients, whilst positioning Better for further growth. As former students of the University, the directors at Better are always keen to encourage and support the retention of skills within the North East. Over the last two years we have also seen an increase in the demand for our creative and design services, and on the back of a number of client wins there was a need to expand our team. We were thrilled to be able to create a position for such a bright young talent as Ryan at the end of his placement."

Ryan said "This is a brilliant opportunity to join a growing agency and it is incredibly exciting to be working in such an innovative team straight from University. I look forward to working on some of the exciting projects that are coming up."

Within the first 24 months Better have expanded to 8 staff and is proud to have established a client base which includes NDI, Freshfayre, Philippa Gregory, Codeworks, TADEA, Teesside University, The Enterprise Team, MPI Offshore, and Northumbria University.

The company has recently been recognised in the Internet/ICT category at the 2009 nebusiness awards after scooping the Best Social Media Marketing Campaign at the 2008 North East Digital Awards, and more recently have been announced as finalists in the Best New Business Awards 2010. In addition to the core brand agency services the business has also launched Better Communities, a powerful online private brand engagement and co-creation platform that has already attracted national clients such as Scottish Power and Northumbrian Water.

Sir Jackie Shares His Words of Wisdom

2011-02-02T06:25:00.001-08:00

Racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart has been inspiring the North's company leaders with the canny Scot insight that has served him so well on the track and in business.

The 71-year-old told the Entrepreneurs' Forum how his struggle with the written word caused him to take an alternative view of the world.

The three times Formula One world champion was branded stupid at school as his dyslexia was not diagnosed well into adulthood.

He said: "I was told at school I was stupid, dumb and thick. I don't know the alphabet, I couldn't sing the national anthem or recite the Lord's Prayer, so I learnt how to say it a millisecond behind everyone else.

"When you are dyslexic you have a creative side of the brain and you learn to think in a different way. You can't think like clever folk. You will seldom be a banker or a lawyer because your brain works in a different way."

Sir Jackie left school at 15 and entered the world of motor racing, following in the footsteps of his brother.

He soon rose to the top to become one of the top five motor racing drivers of all time before switching to team ownership with his son Paul that saw him sell his F1 team to Ford.

Sir Jackie spoke at a Forum event marking Burns Night, at the BALTIC. He was joined by Graeme Lowdon, chief executive of one of F1's newest teams, Virgin Racing,

Sir Jackie shared with guests the formula that for him had proved a winner.

"Under-promise and over deliver," he said. "It is easy to get carried away with a little bit of success and that is the fastest way to bring you down. Never get angry; never get too excited; you have got to be clinical.

"I see these CEOs at motor shows with what I call the corporate strut. They think they are really important but no one knows their names and they can be here today and gone tomorrow. If you get carried away you will make bad decisions. You have to keep to your values."

He said you needed to develop experience and surround yourself with the right people.

"You have to have experience and from that you gain knowledge; put them together and you can get wisdom; you can mature and make some big decisions".

Chief executive of the Entrepreneurs' Forum, Carole Beverley, said: "Sir Jackie was a true inspiration because he was so measured in his approach. Being successful in business is more than just spotting an opportunity; it is also having the wisdom and wherewithal to maximise the potential in a consistent, calculated way."

A FIRST IMPRESSION SHOULD ALWAYS BE A POSITIVE IMPRESSION.

2011-01-31T09:13:00.000-08:00

Kathryn Clarke 27, a graduate of Newcastle University, has launched an exclusive Image Consultancy studio in the heart of Newcastle.

Offering a range of services to both private and corporate clients, Positive Impressions based at the retail development at the Forth Arches, opened its doors in late 2010. Since then, Kathryn has already undertaken a number of client consultations in the luxurious, purpose designed studio.

The vision behind the Positive Impressions studio is to offer customers an experience similar to spending the day at a spa or salon, where they can relax and treat themselves to something different.

Having spotted the timely opportunity to start up her own business, Kathryn used the passion she had for style and colour consultation from a young age and built her business plan around it.

Speaking of this enthusiasm, Kathryn said,

“I received a colour analysis consultation as a gift from a family friend who worked as an image consultant and I enjoyed every minute of it. I am now a firm believer that the right outfit can make you feel fantastic, look great and also give you the inner confidence to succeed in both your personal and professional life.”

Kathryn, a former recruitment consultant has been using her expertise by sharing her knowledge of business dress codes to corporate clients in addition to those wishing to find a smart image when entering the competitive jobs market. Services for corporate clients are bespoke packages designed to meet individual requirements.

Positive Impressions also offers colour analysis, style consultations for men and women, cosmetics consultations, wardrobe planning, personal shopping, corporate image and colour and style parties.

Speaking of the success of Positive Impressions to date, Kathryn said,

“I hope that I can continue to offer my services to those who would like to experience the benefits of image consultancy. Clients have visited me for many reasons, from wanting to increase their confidence, hoping to be more economical when selecting a new wardrobe, or to simply treat themselves.

“In five years time my aim is that Positive Impressions will be a business with a strong reputation for offering an excellent service and that it is well established and respected locally. “

Kathryn is a Registered Affiliate of the Federation of Image Professionals International. She is also an Accredited First Impressions Consultant and works as part of their national network of consultants.

App Proves No Risk For Security Team

2011-01-28T09:00:00.000-08:00

A global security firm that provides close protection services to international pop groups and Russian billionaires has chosen a South Tyneside software house to create a ‘James Bond style' top security iPhone application.

Boldon-based technology experts DEF Apps designed and developed the app for WF Special Projects, which protects VIPs, diplomats, sports stars and high profile business people.

The new iPhone app gives the company's team leaders access to data that allows them to plan and control detailed client protection operations across Europe and in some of the world's most dangerous hostile environments.

A typical job might involve providing security advice, planning routes, private home security planning, armoured vehicle provision, researching the backgrounds of people the client will come into contact with, and personally escorting the client to ensure their safety.

Teams of up to eight close protection officers are managed by a team leader, who needs access to all live project data on the clients - right down to their blood group - plus the protection team's CVs, radio details and information on the kit they will be carrying.

The app stores all the necessary data and stores it on a central system so updates can be deployed from a central location to individual iPhones if necessary.

David Frame, head of DEF Apps, said: "Many of WF's clients include famous, wealthy, or politically important people. Providing security advice and protecting individuals and their families involves a lot of detailed planning work and highly sensitive data, which has to be instantly available and updatable by all the authorised users.

"The team needs world class software to assist them in their work, and the iPhone app allows for mass storage and manipulation of information on their client and anything that could affect them or the project. This is a true business app and is deployed by the team whilst protecting some of the most high profile individuals on the planet."

Shaun West, managing director of WF Special Projects and a former Para who has served in Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Iraq, said: "Our role as security consultants is to provide expert risk assessment and threat avoidance, and in the event of an incident, protect our clients.

"Privacy and confidentiality are essential in our business, and this new app will give our operatives instant access to all the security review information they need to plan and control operations that keep our clients safe."

WF Special Projects have delivered operations across the world in both armed and unarmed environments, ranging from team protection for Champions League games, through to guarding the teams who burn Afghanistan's poppy fields.

Restaurant Design Company Restores Medieval Banquet Hall

2011-01-28T05:31:00.000-08:00

A North East design company has helped to bring a medieval banquet hall back to life at a Newcastle restaurant.

Hebburn-based Restaurant Design Associates (RDA) was appointed by the award-winning Blackfriars restaurant in Newcastle to renovate a 50-seat 13th century banquet hall. The restaurant is one of the oldest dining rooms in the UK, dating back to 1239, and the hall was the celebrated venue used by King Edward III for receiving royal Scot, Edward Balliol.

RDA has helped to fully restore the hall to its original glory, and also installed necessary modern additions such as a bar, kitchen, lighting, under-floor heating and toilets, as part of the meticulous year-long project.

The bar and kitchen are both hidden behind reclaimed wooden screens, and furnishings include large oak communal dining tables and matching chairs.

Judith Addyman, director of RDA, said: "We have been delighted to work with Blackfriars on such an impressive, historically significant restoration project and we're very proud of the finished result."

Andy Hook, owner of Blackfriars, said: "We have been passionately promoting the rich tapestry of Blackfriars heritage for almost a decade now and we are very grateful for RDA's hard work and dedication to the project.

"We are incredibly excited to re-open this stunningly beautiful medieval banquet hall for the local community, school children and tourists to enjoy, and RDA helped to make this a reality."

The hall is also available for corporate events, networking groups, functions, wine tastings, educational visits, private parties, anniversaries and weddings.

RDA has a wealth of experience in the design and installation of catering and retail facilities for multi-national blue chip companies, education and NHS Trusts, contract caterers and private businesses throughout the UK.

The firm has secured several orders for this year onwards, including a number of food courts, coffee outlets, workplace restaurants and commercial kitchens at sites such as Birmingham Hospital, Peterborough Hospital and Coventry University.

For further information about RDA, visit www.rdalimited.co.uk or tel: 0844 873 4993

Blackfriars Restaurant, Friars Street, Newcastle, NE1 4XN, (0191) 261 5945,www.blackfriarsrestaurant.co.uk

Young Entrepreneurs Trust: Under 35’s in Business Programme

2011-01-28T02:18:00.000-08:00

We’re pleased to support this new venture, pioneered by entrepreneur Will Ryles.

When young people start out in business they don’t have years of experience to back them up. Usually the urge to go it alone is because they feel they have the raw talent to be better than the competition in their particular field, but from experience we know most are not experts in all the other areas needed to make a business tick.

The experience of starting a business is daunting no matter what the age, but we recognise that young entrepreneurs have a different set of social issues to the norm. Often young entrepreneurs can still be growing up, with friends that often do not understand the stresses and strains of running your own business. It can be both the most exciting and socially stressful moments of their lives.

The under 35’s in Business programme is designed not only to bring young entrepreneurs together socially, but also to provide them with the support needed to run a business by providing social and business mentors along with training to help them set up on their own.

Meetings

1^st Monday of every month at the Spice Cube, The Gate, Newcastle

For: Entrepreneurs under 35, and special guests over 35

Structure:

6-6.30pm Arrive + Network

6.30-6.40pm Speech

6.40pm-7.30pm Meal

7.30pm-8pm Q+A session

8pm After meal drinks

Mentoring

We specifically aim to provide mentors under the age of 35 that have gone through similar experiences or situation to those you are currently experiencing. They will be able to provide you with an insight into how they approached certain business issues, but also be able to relate to the personal issues you may face when running a business.

Education

We aim to run courses aimed at teaching young entrepreneurs how to be self employed. As a business owner you will be expected to tackle many angles of business, finance, marketing, pr etc, we aim to make sure young entrepreneurs have access to relevant training and experience to ensure they make a success of their chosen venture.

For more details and to book the first event on the 7th February, please visit http://www.youngentrepreneurstrust.org.uk/

For any more information please contact Will at wryles@dovcor.com

Free event aims to give Newcastle residents their Eureka moment

2011-01-26T08:51:00.000-08:00

A NEW initiative has been set up to encourage unemployed people and those facing the threat of redundancy to set up their own business in Newcastle.

Funded by Newcastle City Council and European Regional Development Fund 2007-13, RTC North has developed Eureka in partnership with Enterprise Made Simple.

The series of free workshops, spread over five days, will be open to anyone with an eligible Newcastle post code with the aim of dispelling the fears and reservations that many people have over going it alone.

The course will show people, who may have no business acumen or qualifications, that anyone can make a success of being self-employed with perseverance, the right guidance and the knowledge needed to overcome certain barriers.

It will also highlight the many opportunities for new businesses that have arisen in the aftermath of the recession and its ongoing fallout.

Barrie Mullen from RTC North said: “We speak to lots of people who say they are not clever enough to start a business and we wanted to try and remove some of those barriers.

“People have lots of skills, some of which could be used to start a business and earn them a wage. We appreciate that if you haven't started a business before it can seem very daunting so Eureka is designed to look at the key aspects of running a business.

“We hope that during the week people will have that Eureka moment when they think that yes, self employment is for me.”

The course runs between 14^th and 18^th February and again from 7^th to 11^th March, across five different venues including St James Park, Hoults Yard and the Royal Station Hotel.

There are 20 places on each course and the deadline for entries is Wednesday 2 February for the February event and 9^th March for the following month’s course.

The workshops will be practical and easy to follow, with fun activities to help increase motivation and self-confidence.

John Musham, head of economic development at Newcastle Council, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for people in Newcastle to gain those essential skills to help them start a business!”

For more information or to book a place on the course please go to: www.rtcnorth-education.org.uk/eureka

Staff at the Double

2011-01-26T04:19:00.000-08:00

STOCKTON-based Cornerstone Business Solutions has added two new members of staff to its growing team and is already in search of further talent.

The company - which was founded by Chris Petty in June 2008 – has predicted a 50pc increase in last year’s turnover which will see the firm hit the £1m mark. Developments in the firm, which has more than double in size and has won scores of industry awards, could see the current workforce of 10 double in the very near future.

Darren Hall, 34, from Redcar, joins the firm as IT technician bringing with him more than 12 years experience. Apprentice Hayley McCleary, who is 16 and from Thornaby, has joined the team as business administrator. The firm is now actively seeking another sales person and an engineer.

“I am delighted to be working with such a progressive company like Cornerstone, it’s a great move and I hope to add value to the business,” said Mr Hall.

Through a number of strategic partnerships and sub-contracting deals – details of which cannot be disclosed at this stage – Cornerstone’s turnover is set to grow to a staggering £3.5m in the next two and a half years and will see the company’s client spread go UK wide.

Mr Petty, who was crowned the 2011 Face of Entrepreneurship for Middleborough in the Entrepreneur’s Forum – If We Can You Can campaign – was determined to create a company which specialises in helping other businesses work smarter.

Cornerstone – which has recently moved from small, shared office premises to the prestigious MAP House at Preston Farm Industrial Estate, now employs 10 staff and boasts an enviable client list including Virgin Vie, The Map Group UK, Coors and Middlesbrough Football Club.

The company partners with global technology brands such as IBM, Lenovo, Microsoft, Cisco, Mitel and BT - to provide robust and reliable support for business critical systems.

For more information about CBS and the benefit it can provide to businesses please visit www.cornerstonebs.co.uk or call 0845 2232400.

Former MediaCityUK chief joins Amazing

2011-01-26T04:10:00.000-08:00

THE former head of business development at MediaCityUK - the new home for the BBC in Manchester - has joined The Amazing Media Group to spearhead the Newcastle-based firm’s business media division.

Jason Legget, who was made redundant from Peel Media last year, has been given a broad brief at Amazing.

He will be charged with growing the existing team and revenues, as well as overseeing the firm’s main product offering, Amazinginstore.

This is a virtual radio and music service for firms such as retailers, hoteliers, leisure companies and charities.

It offers them a library of around 35,000 original songs which are exempt from conventional licensing processes - in a bid to save clients money and generate sales for artists.

Jason Legget, who prior to MediaCityUK worked at the NWDA, said: “Working in the North West was great and I have met some inspirational business people, but the opportunity to work with Paul (Campbell, Amazing founder and CEO) again and return to Newcastle to run Amazing Business Media was an opportunity too good to turn down.”

Story courtesy of www.bdaily.info

A Tough Year Says Economist, But Better Days To Come

2011-01-21T02:49:00.001-08:00

Entrepreneurs hold the key to driving forward the North East economy as it faces a squeeze on consumer spending over the next year, a leading economist has predicted.

After a tough 12 months, the region should begin to see an improving economic picture over the next two or three years as the budget deficit is reduced and government revenue grows.

Douglas McWilliams, founder of think-tank the Centre for Economics and Business Research Ltd and former chief economic advisor to the Confederation of British Industry, said North East entrepreneurs provided "the acorns from which oaks will begin to grow" but it would mean breaking out of a culture previously reliant on the public sector.

"The rate of business start-ups is relatively low. In a sense they have been stymied by a culture that has looked to the government rather than to do things for themselves," he said as a guest speaker at the Entrepreneurs' Forum annual Chairman's Dinner.

Cuts would have a greater impact on the region because of its disproportionate share of public spending, he said.

But North East entrepreneurs were particularly strong, and the IT revolution meant they were less dependent upon local customers.

"It's easier for a region to transform itself quickly than it would have been in the past," said Mr McWilliams, a regular economics commentator on television and radio and whose clients include Siemens, Vodafone, Oracle, Transport for London and The Crown Estate.

The North East was a distilled version of the national picture, which he said was looking much more exciting in a couple of years' time.

"At the moment we are climbing up the hill but when we get to the slide down it will be much better. 2013, 2014 and 2015 could be quite good years for the British economy," he added.

While the global economy goes through the biggest transformation ever, the UK was facing a "slightly bigger challenge" because of a mismatch between the economic cycle and the political cycle, said Mr McWilliams, who advises politicians on both sides.

Tom Maxfield, chairman of the Entrepreneurs' Forum, opened the event telling Forum members: "The future lies in our hands and each one of us has the opportunity to seize the moment and turn it to our advantage."

He posed the question if the coalition government was a good thing for business, and asked if members could ever take opposition leader Ed Miliband seriously after he said the budget deficit had nothing to do with Labour.

Mr Maxfield said it was the calibre of leadership that would prove critical, comparing the widely criticised performance of England coach Fabio Capello in the football World Cup to that of Andrew Strauss, captain of England's Ashes-winning cricket team.

One entrepreneur who survived a death threat by Russian mafia and spent five years trying to bring his business into profit before reaching stardom is Nick Jenkins, founder and chairman of Moonpig.com.

As guest entrepreneur at the dinner, held at Jesmond Dene House in Newcastle, Mr Jenkins said he was drawn towards starting his own venture by the "carrot of what might happen".

"As an entrepreneur it doesn't matter if you never get to the carrot; it's about the possibility and the chance to dream. You can't dream of winning the lottery if you don't buy a ticket," he said.

He spent nine years in Moscow working as a commodity trader for a sugar company and was involved in an MBO of the business, generating enough capital to invest in his own venture back in the UK.

Mr Jenkins, who failed to get the A level grades to secure a place at Newcastle Polytechnic but later went on to study Russian literature and an MBA, says the importance of having his own cash to invest in the business should not be underestimated when it came to securing external funding later.

"Lots of people have good ideas but don't have any money, but when it comes to raising finance it's more convincing if you've got some of your own," he explained.

"Investors are fairly cautious and if the owner has nothing to lose they are less likely to be interested. I do not think I would have got the funding if I had started it without my own money."

It was 1999 at the height of the dot come boom when he came up with the idea for Moonpig, realising that his own schoolboy nickname fulfilled all his criteria for a strong brand - simple, memorable and easy to spell.

The business now dominates the online greeting cards sector with 2.7 million active customers who purchased 12 million cards from the site during 2010.

Admiral launches new digital service

2011-01-21T01:41:00.001-08:00

Admiral, known for its PR and public affairs service offering, has launched a dedicated digital arm, Admiral Digital.

With offices in Newcastle, Manchester and London, the new digital team of three will provide: web design and development, Flash animation and online advertising, search engines optimisation, app development and website consultation. The new digital team will work closely with the PR team to build Admiral’s revenues.

Heading up digital, Seth Ridley comes with a wealth of experience in the creative industry working with big brands including easyjet, NHS, Vodafone and Yakult. With a combined 40 years of experience, the digital team will enhance the offering of the communication consultancy.

Speaking of the launch, IWCYC member Georgie Cameron, founder and managing director of Admiral, said;
“We were constantly handing our revenue to partners for digital projects and decided it was time to bring the service offering in-house.”

The launch of Admiral Digital comes after a new full-service office in Manchester recently opened along with a satellite office in London.

North East software entrepreneurs launch a world first

2011-01-14T01:42:00.000-08:00

TWO SOFTWARE entrepreneurs are set to launch a new software program designed to capture children’s opinions about their school life in a bid to help staff monitor and improve the school’s performance.

Newcastle-based Jeremiah Alexander and Peter Hirst are launching their new business, Every1Speaks, at BETT 2011 - the world’s largest exhibition of educational technology products held at Olympia, in London this week.

Peter Hirst, company director, said capturing the student voice is rising up the priority list for most schools, but no objective way to collect information exists yet.

“Getting the opinions of pupils has become a concern for many schools,” said Mr Hirst.

“Some even include a pupil on the panel when interviewing for new teachers or hold focus groups of children to get their opinion on life in the classroom.

“But there are some real issues with capturing data that way, because the natural teacher-pupil relationship can inhibit the response or it could be an unfair reflection of what the main school body believes.”

The software program aims to help staff capture ‘student voice’, a term used to describe pupils’ opinions and views on all aspects of their school life, ranging from what they are taught in lessons to how school dinners can be improved.

Many education experts believe accommodating the opinion of students enhances youngsters’ engagement in school and could help improve their grades.

Four schools across the North East, one in New Zealand and one in Cornwall have helped develop and pilot the software and interest in purchasing the product began well in advance of its launch – from as far afield as Canada and California.

Story courtesy of www.bdaily.info

Exciting new Unplugged event announced – Design Fusion, 20th January

2011-01-13T03:31:00.000-08:00

Breaking Down Barriers. Creating Opportunities

Thursday, January 20th

6:30pm to 9:30pm

Northumbria University, City Campus East

‘If We Can You Can’ and Northumbria University School of Design have teamed up using the popular Unplugged event format to bring together the North East’s entrepreneurial designers.

The North East has a wealth of creative talent within the design community and this event will explore the idea that nurturing the intrinsic links between the numerous design disciplines will put design-based entrepreneurs in a strong position to capture opportunities both within and beyond the region.

Based on the Entrepreneurs’ Forum’s proven principle that entrepreneurs learn best from their peers, ‘If We Can You Can’ aims to create an environment in which perspectives and experiences are shared openly for the benefit and support of the community.

Joining us on stage at this great event will be key figures in the North East’s Design community including Mike Dowson from Design Network North as well as a panel of cross-discipline experts from the region, Joanna Feeley of Trend Bible, Darren Richardson of digital agency, Gardiner Richardson, award winning furniture designer Elliot Brook of Deadgood and Ian Jobling of Product Revolution Limited.

Our final speaker has also just been announced - taking to the stage will be Chris Bond, R & D Director of Hardy & Greys, lifting the lid on their world leading and innovative manufacturing products.

For your chance to get involved in what is guaranteed to be a great evening of design, discussion and debate please email Will@entrepreneursforum.net or call 0191 226 7488. Places are free, but there is a limit so please book early to ensure yourself a place.

Please also pass this on to anyone else you may know within the North East design industry who would benefit from attending this event.

If you would be interested in showcasing your company and designs, then please let us know.

Simplicity is key to success

2011-01-12T07:56:00.000-08:00

Feature on Sarah Pittendrigh that was featured in the recent Accent Magazine (accentmagazine.co.uk)

Two years ago, Sarah Pittendrigh turned redundancy into opportunity when she set up her own business. Simply Bows and Chair Covers is now thriving, as Rebecca Eves discovers.

WHEN I SPEAK to Sarah Pittendrigh, managing director of Simply Bows and Chair Covers, she’s between appointments on a day that’s full of client meetings.“We’re working nearly 24 hours a day at the moment,” she laughs. “But I certainly won’t be complaining.”

After nearly two years in business, the chair cover and table linen specialist has grown to incorporate six franchises, covering the whole of the North East, plus North Yorkshire and Cumbria.

Further franchises are on the way in Lancashire, London, Cheshire and the Midlands, with a total of 30 forecast to be up and running by the end of 2012. Sarah puts the company’s impressive development down to its integral high standards of both product and service.

She explains: “I used to be a brand manager for Land Rover and Jaguar and then worked in event management. When we hired linen it didn’t seem to matter where we went, the quality was poor and the service was very underwhelming.

“There was a definite gap in the market, so when I lost my job in 2008, I thought I would grasp the opportunity and set up my own business.

“We’ve become the preferred supplier to many of the key wedding venues in the North East and I would hope it is because we provide the complete package: it’s a quality product, at an affordable price, supported by an exceptional standard of customer service.”

The business took off thanks to Sarah’s determination and strong work ethic, as she recalls: “I took the product to market myself – I sat down with wedding co-ordinators and general managers, and asked for feedback about the product. They loved it and we took notice of their comments and requirements.

“I set the company up in January 2009, and by September I couldn’t cope with the amount of enquiries we were getting.”

The resulting decision to franchise the company was clearly a smart move, but it wasn’t an easy option.

“To hand over the brand to franchisees is quite a daunting task,” says Sarah, “so I spend a great deal of time selecting suitable individuals who demonstrate creative flair, exude enthusiasm to develop the brand and are totally customer-focused.

“I’ve turned people down because I didn’t believe their motivation for coming in to our brand was right.”

The team now includes Jo Harris (Northumberland), Charlotte Harris (Newcastle), Lucinda Thompson (Sunderland and Teesside), Kristy Small (West Northumberland and Cumbria), and Lesley Nockels and Chris Burgess (North Yorkshire). Sarah stills takes care of South Northumberland and County Durham herself.

Simply Bows and Chair Covers has certainly grown, but the simplicity of its offering remains at the core of the business, as Sarah points out: “We stick to what we do best – high quality chair covers with matching table linen – but we work with recommended partners who take care of any other requirements our clients might have, such as florists and stationers, allowing us to offer our clients the full package, prepared by specialists in each field.”

When it comes to keeping their own products fresh, the Simply Bows team has a creative approach.

“We’re constantly coming up with new ideas,” says Sarah. “We might take inspiration from the catwalk and manipulate that to accessorise a chair, as well as seasonal trends in colours and accessories.

“We create bespoke events that make the most of the client’s budget – we don’t do anything off-the-shelf.”

The company has also expanded its services for the corporate market in recent months.

"Napkins and chairs can now be branded with a logo,” says Sarah, “and we’ve also got an extensive range of coloured linen, so a client can tie their corporate colours into the look for an awards ceremony or a product launch.”

For those who like the idea of pursuing their own entrepreneurial venture, Sarah has some advice: “I think the key thing is to fully research and understandthe market you wish to enter,” she reflects.

“Because I had ten years’ experience in events, I had a lot of contacts and experience in that field, which helped me to get the business off the ground quickly.

“If you’re passionate and you believe in your product, you’ve got to give it a go because if you don’t, it will always be a ‘what if’.”

For more information, log on to: www.simplybowsandchaircovers.co.uk

Touchstone makes call on next stage of its growth

2011-01-12T03:11:00.000-08:00

A telemarking firm is on target to triple the size of its workforce and double turnover in the New Year after landing a string of contracts with corporate giants in its first 12 months in business.

Touchstone Leads, based in Shildon, County Durham, was launched almost a year ago by Kevin Ireson who decided to go it alone after spending over a decade working as head of sales at a large UK corporation.

The company was set up to generate key appointments for companies with potential clients that could help boost their sales.

It operates from the unique standpoint that it only bills clients for leads that meet their criteria - a factor which has proved popular with a number of heavyweight UK businesses.

In its first year the company has already won contracts with financial groups HSBC and Santander and northern legal giant Ward Hadaway, amongst other large firms.

The company currently employs five members of staff, but plans to take this up to 15 next year as it moves into larger premises to facilitate its expansion.

Meanwhile, annual turnover at the fast-growing firm is expected to climb from £250,000 this year to £500,000 by the end of 2011, reaching £800,000 in its third year in business.

Mr Ireson said: "One of the biggest frustrations I had in my former role as a head of new business sales was in finding a telemarketing company that was willing to back itself and only get paid on results so I needed to buck the trend.

"We specialise in making appointments that are guaranteed to meet client requirements and help get them in front of the right businesses.

"In the next five years I hope to become a large employer in the North East that is focused on helping businesses grow their sales and deliver results that will give an instant return."

Touchstone is a business-to-business telemarketing company which specialises in qualified appointment making with a combined 20 years of experience in the field within its workforce.

For more information go to http://www.touchstoneleads.co.uk

DIY design site set to transform exhibition experience

2011-01-11T07:12:00.001-08:00

A NEW digital service has been launched which is aiming to revolutionise the way businesses prepare for exhibitions, seminars and conferences.

Currently, when firms plan to show off their wares at major events, design costs for marketing material alongside the price of an exhibition plot can severely dent company budgets.

However, an online photography firm has set up a new service which allows businesses with little or no design experience to create their own promotional material.

Digitalab, based in Newcastle, has launched an online tool that enables firms to design their own banner stands exactly to their specifications, thus cutting out often-expensive design costs.

The site, www.ebannerstands.co.uk, is aimed at businesses that do not want to compromise on quality at events, despite being on a tight budget.

It allows users to choose bespoke designs with optional backgrounds, gradients, patterns and templates and also gives them the option of uploading their own logo and inserting bullet points.

Jill Roe, exhibitions manager at Digitalab, said: “We don’t want to belittle the good work that designers do, but we believe there is a gap in the market for firms whose budget may not stretch to hiring their services.

“Our site allows customers to try any number of design combinations until they are happy with the final look, without having to go back and forth making amendments with designers.

Digitalab launches the new service on the back of a period of strong growth for the firm, having enjoyed a 28% increase in sales during 2010.

To build on the anticipated success of the banner stands site, its next step will be to create a similar digital service that enables consumers to match their photos with bespoke picture frames online before they buy the real thing.

Digitalab is a family business which started life in 1949 when Ms Roe’s grandfather, Percy Fountain set up a picture developing and framing company on Tyneside.

It has since adapted to the advent of digital photography and online shopping and today employs 10 people at its base on Newcastle’s Stepney Bank.

For more information on the company please visit: www.digitalab.co.ukA NEW digital service has been launched which is aiming to revolutionise the way businesses prepare for exhibitions, seminars and conferences.