HLA Services BUSINESS Firm completes three-year maintenance contract with NETWORX Northumbria Police WWW.TEAMVALLEYPUBLICATIONS.CO.UK ISSUE #46 • FEBRUARY / MARCH 2021

Geoff Cake Stories Ramm How a key strategic Celebrity Service move helped Superstars cakery expand revenue streams

Adapting to change Challenge yourself and find better ways to complete everyday tasks

IN ASSOCIATION WITH:

THE TEAM VALLEY TRADING ESTATE’S NUMBER ONE BUSINESS FOCUS MAGAZINE Be part of it BUSINESS NETWORX

Advertising rates Editorial T: 0191 491 1834 Advertising rates to suit every budget: Prices start from as little as £30 + VAT [email protected] per edition and we offer free space for charitable and not-for-profit organisations too. Sales and ADVERT SIZE 1 EDITION 3 EDITIONS 6 EDITIONS (PRICE PER EDITION) (PRICE PER EDITION) (PRICE PER EDITION) Advertising T: 0191 487 1834 1/8 Page £39.00 + VAT £35.00 + VAT £30.00 + VAT [email protected]

1/4 Page £69.00 + VAT £65.00 + VAT £60.00 + VAT

1/2 Page £129.00 + VAT £115.00 + VAT £105.00 + VAT

Full Page £199.00 + VAT £185.00 + VAT £165.00 + VAT

Double Page £359.00 + VAT £325.00 + VAT £295.00 + VAT

Premium Page £279.00 + VAT £249.00 + VAT £215.00 + VAT

Terms & Conditions: All prices displayed above are exclusive of VAT. Prices are correct at the time of printing. Team Valley Printers have the right to withdraw this offer at anytime. Contact us for details.

BOOKING DISTRIBUTION Advertising cut off date DEADLINE DATE

ISSUE 47 April / May 12th March 26th March Press Releases If you have an editorial press release and would like it to be Distribution featured within the magazine, As well as delivering the publication into every business, approx 800, on the please call us on Team Valley the magazine is now delivered / distributed in the following places making the total print run 1000 copies. 0191 487 1834.

The Bank Bar Bistro Owner’s Business Team Valley Publications Centre Newburn 3 Octavian Way, Team Valley, UK Land Estates , NE11 0HZ Blaydon Business Centre Tel: 0191 487 1834 Westray Recruitment E-mail: [email protected] Metropolitan House Web: www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk Biz Space Business Centre, Business Centre Team Valley Publications is part of the Team Valley Earlsway Team Valley Group, All contents copyright © 2021 Team Valley Business Networks Printers Ltd. All rights reserved. All artwork remains Team Valley Cafe the property of Team Valley Printers Ltd and cannot (Metro Centre) be copied or reproduced without permission of Team Valley News Team Valley Printers Ltd. While every effort is Northern Design Gateshead made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility can be Dentist (centre of Team Valley) accepted for illustrations, photography, artwork Greenfield Business Centre or advertising materials or the services provided Regus Main Gate Team Valley by the advertising companies. All information is Gateshead International correct at time of going to print. Gym etc Business Centre

An electronic copy is available to view here: teamvalleypublications.co.uk/business-networx-magazine/

2 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk Business Networx Magazine | 3 Industrial

Northumbria Police contract is added to impressive order book as HLA comes of age

South Tyneside-based, HLA Services, starts 2021 with a strong order book, including an impressive three-year maintenance contract with Northumbria Police.

Following a successful tender process, the company will supply air conditioning to 23 police stations. HLA Services has also seen growth across various divisions, including a 30% increase in its mechanical contracts department and 10% growth in its service Directors at HLA Services maintenance division, as turnover (left to right) Neil Henry reaches £12.5 million. and Paul Smith 2021 also marks the company’s 18th anniversary since being formed by directors Neil Henry and Paul Smith. During that time it has grown to become In the last 12 months, we have seen growth in one of the North’s leading mechanical, our mechanical and service and maintenance air conditioning, climate systems and temperature control specialists. divisions, by recruiting additional specialists Headquartered in Boldon, HLA Services in areas such as ventilation, which has employs over 100 staff, with satellite offices in Teesside, Cumbria and North Yorkshire. enabled us to tender for more work. Neil Henry, said: “We have started the year on a positive note and with strong HLA Services works across numerous “During 2021 our fleet will start to become levels of activity. Over the last 18 years we sectors including construction, electric with charging points at our have weathered numerous storms, the manufacturing, retail, education and locations and as part of our service financial crash, BREXIT and the ongoing hospitality. Customers include Newcastle, offering to customers, we will also, where COVID-19 pandemic. However, we have and Durham Universities, requested, install electric charging points remained focused and resilient and have Hays Travel, Caterpillar UK and Durham for them. created opportunities by introducing Cricket club. innovative, new services. “As we continue to steadily grow, retaining and attracting quality staff “In the last 12 months, we have seen Paul Smith, said: “Looking forward, becomes all the more imperative. We growth in our mechanical and service sustainability is high on our agenda and will take time and exercise due diligence and maintenance divisions, by recruiting we have pledged our commitment to when picking each and every new additional specialists in areas such as reduce carbon emissions in line with the person that joins us and provide them with ventilation, which has enabled us to Government’s target of reaching net zero individual development plans, so they tender for more work.” by 2050. grow and develop with us.” Business Networx Magazine | 5 Phil Lax David Cowey ADAPTING TO CHANGE The one constant thing in our lives is change - and recent times have seen us all having to adapt to them very quickly. EMPLOYMENT CHANGES IN 2021 ‘Change is the law of life. And those who look to the past or present are certain to There are a few key changes this year for miss the future’ - John F Kennedy employers to be particularly aware of. We cannot avoid it and the more we resist change the tougher our life becomes. Change as John F Kennedy quoted is a Law of Life. We are surrounded by change and it is the one thing that has the most dramatic impact on our lives. There is no avoiding change as it will find you, challenge you and force you to reconsider how to live your life. The last ten months have seen lots of change including the way we work, where we work from and new skills we’ve had to learn. If we’d known this was going to happen we could have prepared ourselves for it - but we didn’t, so we’ve all had to go through the change process together. This leads nicely on to Lean (or some might know it as continuous improvement) and how change takes us out of our comfort zone, challenging us to find better ways to complete our everyday process or tasks. We now all know how that feels as we have first- hand experience of it. A friendly team spirit (which has recently New Immigration System • National Minimum Wage (18-20) been shown in abundance across the • From 1st January 2021 a new increases from £6.45 to £6.56 country as we support friends, colleagues, immigration system applies to • National Minimum Wage (under 18) and neighbours) and determination individuals arriving in the UK for the to identify, challenge and change the increases from £4.55 to £4.62 first time. EEA citizens (this includes EU way we work are the key ingredient citizens) and Swiss citizens moving to to successful improvements within any • Apprenticeship Wage increases from business, and these can be realised with the UK for the first time from this date £4.15 to £4.30 Newcastle based Infinite Brilliance. to work will need to obtain a work visa in advance. To note in particular here is that the age If we can all manage to get through threshold for the National Living Wage is • Employers planning to sponsor unforeseen change, then planned lowered from age 25 to age 23. change with a detailed roadmap will workers from outside the UK will need surely be a like a walk in the park! to apply for a sponsorship licence in Statutory Payments advance. David Cowey On 6th April each year, statutory • The Governments online check is payments such as statutory sick pay, www.infinitebrilliance.co.uk a useful starting point for businesses maternity pay etc. are increased. The [email protected] View a job applicant’s right to work Follow Infinite Brillance on LinkedIn 2021 rates are as follows: details - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) • Statutory maternity, paternity, National Minimum Wage adoption, parental bereavement The National Minimum Wage rates and shared parental payments - increase on 6th April 2021 as follows: increase from £151.20 to £151.97 per • National Living Wage (23+) increase week from £8.72 to £8.91 • Statutory sick pay (SSP) is set to • National Minimum Wage (21-22) increase from £95.85 to £96.35 increases from £8.20 to £8.36 per week

6 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk Business Networx Magazine | 7 Advertorial If you would like your press release to be featured within the magazine call us on 0191 487 1834. A smooth taste of the North East A good gin and tonic is a favourite for most of us - easy to make, while being both refreshing and warming, making it the perfect drink any time of the year. At the Networx we love local brands, so when Geordie Gin picked up a world gin award it seemed we needed to take a closer look.

The idea for Geordie Gin came to North East-born founders Geoff Graydon and Stu Lamb, where else but in a north-east bar. As long-time gin drinkers, they’d often felt that a fair few of the ones they tried weren’t too good, and with Stu being an ex-chemist thought it shouldn’t be too hard to make a better one.

So they went off to do some research under vacuum for absolutely everything and stumbled across the fact that many that goes into their gins, making them the other locations around the UK had a gin only mass produced, vacuum distilled celebrating their part of the UK, but that gin available. That means the process there was nothing in the North East that of distillation never gets above 38°C celebrated everything Newcastle had (Meaning fewer reactions and minimising to offer. They were determined to create by-product run off). It might sound quite a product that was worthy of the North. technical but what it means is the final Stu’s son, Adam, was also brought into the product is incredibly smooth and means business, ensuring it stayed a local family you sip down and enjoy Geordie Gin neat! company, which is really important to To purchase Geordie Gin, find out more them. With a job market that’s usually so about their story and even take a look at -focussed in the UK, making sure the bespoke gins they offer, you can visit every aspect of their product is sourced, their website at www.Geordie-Gin.uk created and shipped from the North East was a key part of Geordie Gin, and they’ve ensured that where possible, they source all of their ingredients from around Making sure every the North East. aspect of their product This isn’t the only thing that sets them apart from other brands - sticking to 11 is sourced, created and black and white botanicals for one - but they also distillate different. Geordie Gin shipped from the North has build their whole process to be done East was a key part

8 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk Business Networx Magazine | 9 Business Talks

Celebrity Service Superstars Geoff Ramm is the creator and author of Celebrity Service & OMG Marketing and has just launched his 4th book to bring a much needed boost to businesses in 2021.

If you’re not being talked about, then you’re not delivering an experience that deserves to be talked about.

orn in the 46 year the book will have on entrepreneurs and old professional speaker and businesses both in the north east and B author has challenged and inspired across the world. audiences across 44 countries to create The book is full of real life examples, award-winning ideas to outperform ideas and techniques to outperform the competition. outmaneuvere and stand head and FORBES called him... ‘A Game Changer’. shoulders above the competition. It features stories from Dallas to Melbourne “Back when the world was locking down and East Boldon to Dubai and will light up I decided to create something positive your business and excite your customers. during a time of great negativity. So the idea to sit down and write Celebrity Geoff added, ‘If you’re not being talked Service Superstars was born. about, then you’re not delivering an experience that deserves to be talked The book for me is the best I’ve written. about. The book will get your customers And the early feedback and Amazon talking….about you”. reviews have been incredible. You can purchase Celebrity Service At the outset of the 2020 saga I posted Superstars online via Amazon, WHSmith ‘When you look back, be proud of what and Waterstones, however, if you’d prefer you did in the time that you had’. As I look a signed copy for you and your team back I’ve never been prouder. As I look you can contact Geoff direct: forwards, I am excited to see the impact [email protected]

10 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk Business Networx Magazine | 11 Advertorial If you would like your press release to be featured within the magazine call us on 0191 487 1834.

Would a £15k cash injection help your small business right now?

In a country being slammed left, right and centre with severe lockdown restrictions I’m guessing the answer from all readers would be a resounding YES!

The good news is if you used the services of an energy broker a £15,000 refund is a very real possibility....

Enter the TPI Claims Company, a Sunderland born startup, lead by two brothers on a mission to get back for small business what is rightfully theirs... but how exactly does it all work?

“We estimate that over 90% of all commercial energy contracts are mis-sold” advises Managing Director, Craig Don, “and our average claim value currently stands at £14,392”...he goes on to explain that this figure is largely made up of un-declared commissions, however in this completely unregulated market there are a number of tell tale signs to watch out for. Here are the big 5!

1. They told you that it was free, or that the supplier paid them, or they simply didn’t discuss it.

2. They promoted long term contracts as the best priced contracts.

3. They told you they were searching the market but all you saw was a few prices.

4. They tried to sell you the contract more than 6 months before it was due to end.

5. They didn’t let you speak to the supplier directly. Until there is a major shake up or regulation in the industry, there will always be the opportunity for trust to be exploited by some brokers out there” says Craig, “But until that day, we are here to help”

If you would like to have TPI Claims Company to provide a free and no obligation assessment of your energy contracts to see what refund you are due simply send caption “Team Valley Claim TPI” to [email protected], or text it to 07976 885676. Alternatively use the online form at www.tpiclaimscompany.co.uk or call 0800 689 0459.

12 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk Business Networx Magazine | 13

Business Networx Magazine | 15 Red Sky Foundation

Mum supports North East charity in memory of her son… A County Durham mum who lost her teenage son in tragic circumstances has raised money to ensure that nobody else has to go through the same anguish.

Seventeen-year-old Will Benson died and Emma Petrucci as a thank you to close at hand can literally make the suddenly last August after a cardiac Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital which difference between life and death in arrest, having previously been diagnosed carried out life saving surgery on their some cases.” as suffering from gastroenteritis. little girl. Lisa is now determined to continue to raise And now his mother Lisa has been working Since its launch five years ago, the money for the Red Sky Foundation and to to support the Red Sky Foundation – and Foundation has raised hundreds of give the charity her support. has raised money for two defibrillators to thousands of pounds to buy vital be installed near her home at View equipment for the hospital, along “Emma and Sergio are absolutely Centre, Sherburn Road and at a near-by with funding a campaign to install fantastic and what they do is helping so branch of Whitfields Chemists. defibrillators in towns and cities across many people,” she said. the North East. Lisa and other residents of the Sherburn “I want to do whatever I can to stop Road estate organised a whole host of “It has been amazing to have Lisa support any other family suffering in the way that fund raising activities to help raise enough us and raise money for the defibrillators,” we have.” said Sergio. money to buy the two vital machines Sergio added that the charity would love – which can saves lives in the event of “She is definitely on of our Red Sky Angels, to hear from anyone else who would like someone having a cardiac arrest. the name we’re giving to those people to support their campaign and become “I would hate anyone else to go through who are supporting the charity and a Red Sky Angel. what we’ve been through,” she said. helping us Further information about the “And who knows, if we had access to one “We know those minutes after a cardiac Red Sky Foundation is available at it might have made a difference to Will. arrest are vital and having a defibrillator www.redskyfoundation.com. “Everyone has been 100 per cent behind us on the estate and their support has been incredible.” We know those minutes after a cardiac arrest are vital Lisa contacted the Red Sky Foundation, and having a defibrillator close at hand can literally make set up by Sunderland couple, Sergio the difference between life and death in some cases. Business Networx Magazine | 17

20 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk Business Networx Magazine | 21 22 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk Business Networx Magazine | 23

Business Networx Magazine | 25 Advertorial If you would like your press release to be featured within the magazine call us on 0191 487 1834.

Cake Stories tell their own story: adapt, expand and succeed – a piece of cake.

Cake Stories began in 2012 with Liz and Hannah, a mother and daughter team, baking cakes in their kitchen at home to sell at local markets and pop-up events around Newcastle.

Since then the business has grown time at Cake Stories, this close family significantly, but has remained true to its business has continued to expand into core ethos: bringing people together and wholesale, corporate and online revenue helping people feel good through Cake streams, with the Gateshead-based to allow us to do local deliveries and ‘click Stories bakes. bakehouse being at the centre of it all. & collect’ orders, and we then secured Now employing a growing team of 25 “Our Bakehouse at Hypoint is a purpose- funding to invest in new branding and people, Cake Stories set up permanent built craft baking kitchen and is the hub a new website, which we launched in residence in a cosy coffee house and of the operation,” says Ben. “It was a Autumn 2020. We’ve continued to invest cakery on Brentwood Avenue in key strategic move in November 2019 in marketing and packaging and we now in 2015. “The aim was to create a place to enable the business to truly scale and ship our letterbox bakes UK-wide.” where we’d like to hang out”, says expand our revenue streams, including “We want to continue to build Cake Hannah. “The cakery embodies our our newest venture – postal brownie and mission to bring proper lush bakes to Stories to be a great employer where Brownio boxes delivered to letterboxes people love to work. We will launch brilliant people. Our team of bakers craft nationwide.” small batches using traditional techniques, additional online products over the with quirky modern flavours and eye- Launching online sales was always part coming months, including an entirely catching decoration.” of the plan at Cake Stories, but with the vegan brownie box whose recipe outbreak of COVID-19, this quickly became development is currently underway, and Cake Stories is now an established part of a significant part of the business. “Our watch this space for postal delivery of the Newcastle food and drink scene, and aim to connect with people through our our popular square cakes in the near is rated as the city’s number one bakery love and passion for great cake has been future too. We are currently developing on Tripadvisor. Since Hannah’s father even more relevant during the pandemic. and testing a brand new packaging Jon and husband Ben joined the team, We have provided working-from-home design made from recycled coffee cups, with Ben leaving his job in Commercial cakey gifts to offices, workplaces and to enable the reliable postage of these Operations in January 2020 to work full- cakes to addresses across the country.” homes across the North East and beyond, helping people show appreciation for “More exciting expansions on the horizon each other and acknowledging all the this year include growing our wholesale hard work that employees are putting into operations to reach a larger market, the constant adaptation to changing work and by opening brand new Cake Stories circumstances.” premises we hope to reach more customers in the North East and beyond, providing “At the start of the first lockdown in March them with our banging coffee and cakes.” 2020, wholesale business disappeared overnight. We launched a basic website Visit: www.cakestories.com

26 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk Business Networx Magazine | 27

Business Networx Magazine | 29 Don’t forget to mention the magazine when using any of these business services.

Business Networx: Directory List your business in our directory for as little as £30 + VAT for a full 12 months. Call us on 0191 487 1834 or email [email protected].

Accounts Cleaning and Hygiene Industrial Security

One Two One Ltd NE Clean Electronic Drives and LDS Locksmiths 44 Astley Road, Seaton Delaval, Durham 11 Gleneagle Close, Chapel Park, Controls North East T: 0191 649 8919 , NE25 0DG NE5 1SG Unit 1, Eastern Avenue, M: 07388 361 077 T: 0191 338 7374 T: 0191 267 8850 Team Valley NE11 0ZJ E: [email protected] W: www.onetwooneaccounts.co.uk E: [email protected] T. 0191 917 0200 W: www.locksanddeadlock.co.uk W: www.neclean.co.uk E: [email protected] W: www.edcscotland.co.uk Advertising Bactalogical Taxis T: 0191 597 5424 Bdaily Dean Taxis M: 07928 946 373 I.T. and Commuications T: 0191 233 6794 T: 0191 444 4444 E: [email protected] W: www.bdaily.co.uk Smart IT E: [email protected] W: www.bactalogical.com T: 0330 223 3525 W: www.deantaxis.co.uk Business Networx Magazine E: [email protected] 3 Octavian Way, Team Valley NE11 OHZ Decorators W: www.smartitgroup.co.uk T: 0191 487 1834 / 0191 491 1525 Workwear E: [email protected] AGP Decorators Ward Air Team Valley Group T: 0191 516 6622 Unit 1, Earlsway Trade Park, The Advertiser Magazine 3 Octavian Way, Team Valley NE11 OHZ M: 07943 142454 Team Valley NE11 0QG 3 Octavian Way, Team Valley NE11 OHZ T: 0191 491 1525 E: [email protected] T: 0191 487 4041 T: 0191 487 1834 / 0191 491 1525 E: [email protected] W: www.agpdecorators.co.uk E: [email protected] E: [email protected] W: www.teamvalleygroup.co.uk W: www.wardair.co.uk Education Web Design Apprenticeships Printing/Graphic Design Gateshead Council and Training Team Valley Web Design Learning Skills Creative Fox 3 Octavian Way, Team Valley NE11 OHZ Access Training T: 0191 433 8727 Unit 2, Boston House, T: 0191 487 5180 Gateshead Skills Academy, E: [email protected] Fifth Avenue Business Park, NE11 0HF E: [email protected] 8th Avenue, Kingsway South, T: 0191 933 8306 W: www.teamvalleyweb.co.uk Team Valley NE11 0JL Electricians E: [email protected] T: 0191 490 4652 W: www.creative-fox.net E: [email protected] M E Electrical NE Ltd Team Valley Printers W: www.accesstraining.org T: 07875 769 584 / 07971 287 049 3 Octavian Way, Team Valley NE11 OHZ E: [email protected] NC Group T: 0191 491 1525 T: 07464 103801 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Food and Drink W: www.teamvalleyprinters.co.uk W: www.ncgroupltd.co.uk Curry Rolls Unit 13 Enterprise House, Property Bathrooms Team Valley NE11 0SR Seven Keys T: 0191 487 1415 Impact Bathrooms 3A Carlton Court, Fifth Avenue, E: [email protected] 322c Mayoral Way, Team Valley NE11 0RT Team Valley NE11 0AZ W: www.curryrolls.com T: 0191 487 0464 T: 0191 497 1797 W: www.impactbathroomsne.co.uk E: [email protected] Finance W: www.sevenkeys.co.uk

Car / Vehicle Seven Bridges T: 0191 491 4119 Public Relations/ My Northumbria Vehicle Leasing E: [email protected] T: 01670 339469 Marketing www.sevenbridgesim.co.uk [email protected] W: E: Direct Submit W: www.mynvl.co.uk Clavering House, Clavering Place, Material Handling Team Valley Service Newcastle, NE1 3NG and MOT Centre Carrylift Group T: 0845 2722350 17 Octavian Way, Gateshead NE11 0HZ Unit 7 Bamburgh Court, Team Valley, M: 07960 664386 T: 0191 432 8869 NE11 0TX E: [email protected] E: [email protected] T: 0191 491 4700 W: www.directsubmit.co.uk W: www.teamvalleymot.co.uk E: [email protected] W: www.carryliftgroup.com

30 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk Business Networx Magazine | 31