County Durham-based Acumen Community Enterprise has been given the funding by The Social Enterprise Loan Fund (TSELF) to develop its Horticultural Acumen arm, which was set up last year and sees members of the community tend its 10-acre planting nursery in Peterlee.

Although the group has seen its turnover shrink from £3.5m to £2.5m and its workforce drop from 100 to 70 over the last two years, it believes it still has the capacity to play a vital role in the community, particularly as the economy struggles to recover.

Kate Welch, chief executive of Acumen, said: “The loan from TSELF has been invaluable, and has enabled us to operate a seasonal business and grow our customer base to over 50 customers, including 36 garden centres, two wholesale markets and a number of local parish and town councils for their ‘Britain in Bloom’ entries.

 “Without the loan, we could never have taken the risk to start this business, as we only make large sales for four months of the year so need cash to invest in the purchase of compost, seeds, small plants and packaging, as well as cover the costs of wages and overheads during the winter as we grow for our peak of spring sales.”

The organisation has already used some of the money to help fund a number of training programmes, including an NVQ in horticulture, and now hopes to double its workforce at the site to 22 during spring next year.

The courses and employment opportunities are being offered to those disadvantaged in the labour market as a result of long-term unemployment, homelessness or a criminal record.

The nursery, which includes 2.5 acres of heated greenhouses growing vegetable packs and bedding plants, sells most of its produce to garden centres and the wholesale market, with Horticultural Acumen expecting it to double sales by next year to £400,000 with the help of the funding.

Acumen is now looking to build up its property operations, with the group currently refurbishing three social houses in East Durham.

Ms Welch said: “We help everyone from those unable to find work to those serving their probation.

“It is important that these people are given the opportunity to help themselves, particularly at this time.”

TSELF has, to date, invested £8m in social enterprises across the UK – helping clients to generate job opportunities as well as training places.

Rod Jones, regional director for TSELF, said: “Horticultural Acumen is unique in the services it offers to the community and really does help many disadvantaged young people in the area, so we are thrilled to be able to assist with funding.”

“TSELF provides loans to social enterprises and charities ranging from £15,000 to £250,000. We are here to help, so we would encourage any social enterprises looking for loans, to contact us.”

This year more than 1,500 youngsters from primary schools across the North East made the most of the sunshine and descended on the beach in South Shields. Over 35 primary schools joined up with local architects to have a great time building sandcastle structures around the theme of “Famous Landmarks”.

Arcus has been working with the Children of St Mary Magdalen RC Primary School, Seaham for several weeks to assist them plan and prepare their designs in readiness for the challenge. The school opted for local famous landmarks that included Durham Cathedral, the Stadium of Light and the Angel of the North.

Bobby Chakravarthy, Associate Partner and Head of the practice’s Architecture Department comments: “The Sandcastle Challenge has once again been a fun event for everyone. It remains important for us to get involved with the local community and to raise awareness of design and architecture amongst its younger members.”

This year’s challenge aims to raise at least £15,000 for Children North East, where the money will be used to support community-based projects around the region.

THE increasing burden of new employment, health and safety and data protection regulation on UK businesses has led law firm Ward Hadaway to expand the legal protection packages it offers to companies.

Experts at the firm, which has offices in Newcastle, Leeds and Manchester, say businesses are having to spend increasing amounts of time ensuring their systems and procedures for staff and customers’ data are up to strict new standards.

The introduction of tough penalties for accidents at work and data disasters, combined with a steep rise in Employment Tribunal claims, is making companies think ever more carefully about such issues.

Ward Hadaway says the situation has become so crucial that it has now expanded the legal protection package it offers to employers.

Previously, the firm’s package only covered companies and organisations’ employment matters.

Now its service covers health and safety issues and data protection matters, giving what Ward Hadaway says is one of the most complete risk management packages on offer in the UK.

Joe Thornhill, partner and joint head of the employment law team at Ward Hadaway, said: “We have been providing employment law protection packages to clients across the country for a number of years and they have been very well received.

“However, in recent times we have noticed from talking to clients that they are increasingly concerned about health and safety matters affecting their business.

“This can be anything from what policies they need to have in place to whether they are covered in the event of a serious incident. Recent high-profile cases involving the loss of personal data from clients and customers has also made employers nervous about that aspect of their business.

“In response to this, we have expanded our protection packages to include health and safety and data protection issues, making what we believe to be one of the most comprehensive packages offered to businesses anywhere in the UK.”

The service – Employment and Health & Safety Protection – has been developed in partnership with insurers Arag, rated the best legal expenses insurer in the UK by industry magazine Insurance 360.

It is also backed up by Ward Hadaway’s own substantial team of specialist employment, health and safety and data protection lawyers.

Ward Hadaway says the package removes the risk of costly employment claims from hiring to firing, reduces the risk and costs of Health and Safety Executive or local authority prosecutions and cuts down on the risk of falling foul of data protection laws.

James Thompson, partner in the health and safety team at Ward Hadaway, said: “Health and safety is increasingly becoming a hot topic in UK businesses of all kinds, not just in sectors such as manufacturing where the risks can be more obvious, and the penalties for not complying with regulations can be severe.

“This package enables companies to know where they stand when it comes to health and safety legislation and what systems they need to have in place, as well as advice on dealing with crisis situations.”

With businesses facing the threat of fines of up to £500,000 for serious breaches of data protection, this is another issue which is preying on the minds of many companies.

Judy Baker, partner and head of data protection at Ward Hadaway, said: “As businesses retain more information about their customers, the dangers of data protection breaches increase.

“By offering a complete review of companies’ data protection systems, this package can help to flag up any potential issues before they get to a stage where enforcement action occurs.”

Joe Thornhill added: “The current economic situation means that businesses are faced with a difficult task ensuring the survival and success of their enterprises.

“With regulators becoming ever more vigilant in enforcing legislation and employees increasingly aware of the potential to take action against their employers, that task is made even harder – and potentially much more expensive.

“Hopefully with the launch of this new package, companies can afford to spend more of their time on growing their businesses rather than on worrying over the onset of regulation.”

If you would like to know more about our new product, which is particularly designed for start-ups and small to medium-sized companies, please contact Brian Chapman on 0191 204 4492 or email brian.chapman@wardhadaway.com

In a bid to keep the West End Youth Enquiry Services (WEYES) up and running _space build have delivered this essential building refurbishment on time and to budget after 26 weeks of work.

And _space surveying, part of Space Group, gave the charity free design and surveying services to completely renovate the building.

Space Group chief executive Rob Charlton said: “This building refurbishment has safeguarded the future of this charity and the great work it is doing. Space Group has fully completed the design and build of this project, and we are delighted with the results.

“Space Group is absolutely passionate about creating and maintaining sustainable communities, and Children North East is our chosen charity, so we were only too pleased to donate all our design services in kind because we know the project will make so much difference to hard-to-reach young people who live, work or go to school in the West End.

“I would like to thank all the other sponsors and supporters who have provided any building materials, interiors features or time to this scheme. It’s wonderful to see its doors finally open after all the hard work of everyone involved.”

The WEYES project, run by charity Children North East, has been operating out of a rundown Victorian building in Graingerville North, West Newcastle, for a decade.

In May 2008, the charity was forced to move into temporary accommodation on Grainger Park Road as the building was in such a bad condition.

_space surveying completed the designs for a suite of new treatment rooms, a new waiting area, kitchen and toilet facilities, an office and ‘open zone’ rehabilitation area. A library and health room are also available for young people.

Children North East chief executive Jeremy Cripps said: “Children North East is delighted that Space Group has joined us in investing in the future of young people of Benwell and Elswick in the west of Newcastle. Through their expertise the whole project has come in on time and on budget. And we are delighted with the result.”

Former independent financial adviser Lawton set up Dual Concept Marketing in 2008, allowing members to meet both in regular exhibitions and dinners as well as through social networking sites.

He re-branded the business as ipnconnect in May, and is hoping to unveil a procurement and collaboration section within the members-only site later this year.

Mr Lawton believes ipnconnect will be a “beacon of light” which can thrive when public sector cuts hit, as its funding comes from sponsorship and membership money.

He also feels that the wide range of networking options will be attracted to the cost-conscious company.

He said: “Our slogan is that this is an organisation where people don’t just network, they get work.

“We want people to collaborate rather than network. Collaboration takes bravery, commitment and team spirit, whereas with networking you can just drift in and out.”

Ipn now has 200 members, who include Sunderland Football Club, Lloyds TSB and IMPACT Plus, and places for exhibitors at its Meet the Professionals event in Middlesbrough in mid-September sold out six weeks in advance.

Lawton is restricting the initial number of spaces to 250.

The numbers will then be rolled out to 750 North East members in two further batches of 250 as ipn’s system is perfected.

By the end of 2012, he hopes to have a UK membership of 27,000.

He is eventually aiming for 100,000 worldwide, and plans to visit firms in Australia later this year.

He said: “We’re happy to collaborate with other networking groups and actively beef up each other’s events.

“If our members stick together they’ve got a much better chance in the tough times, but I know I wouldn’t go to a networking event and pay a fee just to swap business cards. I want more.”

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

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