SAFC Steve Davison 2 3 North East Times Magazine The voice of business_ No 4 North East Times Magazine The voice of business_ 439 The voice of business 5 North East Times Magazine The voice of business_ The North East has a diverse and distinctive business community, which needs a voice more than ever in these unprecedented times. North East Times is firmly committed to being the voice of the region’s business community, and is dedicated to championing our area’s industry, creativity and innovation. 4Disruption in our lives has been sectors like health and education will commonplace for over a year now and continue to provide us with inspirational has led to tremendous challenges for stories of endeavour and success. most business owners, who devote their North East Times is committed to the lives to keeping their companies going. principles of independent journalism However, it’s also provided many and publishes stories with authority and senior executives with an opportunity to authenticity. review the effectiveness of their product, In such uncertain, fast moving times, service, people and market positioning. it’s essential that businesspeople are The coronavirus pandemic, following up to date with relevant news, insight hot on the heels of Brexit and three and analysis – be it about Government elections in four years, has been a severe economic policies, new products and test for the North East region, one that services or technological innovation. evokes the upheavals of the 1970s when The thirst for such intelligence means we were dealing with a massive oil crisis, a strong B2B platform is essential to industrial strife and a landmark vote to support and champion the region. We, enter the Common Market. like you, want to maximise opportunities Those events ultimately led to a to ‘level up’ the North East. complete shift in the UK’s political Yet unlike the 70s, when regional press direction, as the post-war ‘consensus’ had an established and influential voice, politics – where Labour and newspaper print has been in decline for Conservatives viewed full employment many years, as the industry has struggled and a mixed economy as desirable – died to adapt to the digital world and the out leading to the monetarist policies of restructuring of regional teams and the Thatcher Governments from 1979 to management. 1990. The need for a strong voice for I don’t know where the epic events business was one of many reasons I of our era will lead us politically, but chose to invest in the all-new North East I do know that our business owners, Times Magazine in 2015, when co-owner executives and senior people across vital and fellow director Pete Mallon pitched 6 North East Times Magazine The voice of business_ the idea to me. I also witnessed how integral high- marketing campaigns and engaging Having been born and raised here, quality journalism was to attracting a social media platforms. I was saddened to see the decline of business readership. This is complemented hugely by our the regional media and relished the This background helped me symbiotic relationship with the North opportunity to play a small part in the understand the business case for East England Chamber of Commerce, changing landscape. investing in the vision. and our production of their membership In our early conversations, we Six years on, North East Times has a magazine, CONTACT. The quarterly discussed a market opportunity for clear strategy to be the voice of regional publication reaches every single one of the delivery of independent journalism business, and also a connector for the the Chamber’s 3000-plus members. delivered across print and digital business community too. The popularity of these bespoke channels of national quality, underpinned The pandemic has, if anything, advertising packages has led to us by values of creativity, integrity and accelerated our plans. welcoming many new clients from transparency. You’ve seen the new direction of North growth sectors such as recruitment, A high-quality regional publication East Times, and you’ll see more in the cyber security, advanced manufacturing, that would offer a first-class advertising coming months. insurance and education. platform too – I was sold. As someone who is engaged with These new clients have complemented I was, at that time, in a senior North East business, you’ll be interested our existing commercial partners who management role with a wealth to hear about the ways our approach have supported us from the early management firm. to client marketing have become days and who we owe a huge debt of However, publishing was my first love, increasingly tailored. gratitude to, particularly for their support having joined the regional press as a Led by our marketing manager, Chloe over the past year. fresh faced 21-year-old in the 80s, when Holmes, we have devised advertising We’re now working hard to amplify it ruled the roost. packages that deliver value across print the voice of the North East business I was fortunate to have great training and digital channels, bespoke to a client’s community and have exciting plans for in sales, management and marketing particular business objectives. our next chapter. We hope you will join with some terrific mentors that enabled The power of North East Times in us! me to develop a thorough understanding print, mailed directly to business leaders, of how creative and strategic advertising innovators, and executives across the and campaigns could support business region, is enhanced by online digital John Duns growth. features and news, targeted email Director 7 Credits Editor Head office Advertising charges: Steven Hugill South Northumberland Cricket Club, Roseworth There is a £25 charge for every set of [email protected] Terrace, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, amendments, following the first initial set of NE3 1LU T: 0191 246 0212 amendments, which is free of charge for adverts designed by North East Times Magazine Ltd. Business journalist All rights reserved. Reproduction, in whole or Richard Dawson in part without written permission, is strictly [email protected] Cancellations: prohibited. 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[email protected] [email protected] Advertisements: Director Contact: Although every care is taken to ensure accuracy, John Duns @NETimesmagazine the publishers regret that they cannot accept T: 07920 152 523 [email protected] responsibility for loss or damage caused by [email protected] www.netimesmagazine.co.uk an error in the printing or damage to, loss of artwork, transparencies or photos. Managing director Photography: All photos taken by North East Times staff are Peter Mallon Complaints: copyright North East Times Magazine Ltd, and T: 07590 064 800 Regarding advertisements will only be are taken solely for use in North East Times [email protected] considered for up to a week after publication. magazine or products published by North East Advertising must be received by the 12th of the Times Magazine Ltd. month. No responsibility is accepted for errors. 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Marketing manager Chloe Holmes T: 07493 555 509 [email protected] Strategic partners Accounts Jill Brown [email protected] Filmography Andrew Lowe [email protected] Contributors: Colin Young Partners Jerry Hopkinson Councillor Heather Scott Jamie Hardesty Nathalie Baxter Business School 8 Editor’s word Editor’s word With the COVID-19 pandemic having caused us all to ‘hit the reset button’, Steven Hugill sees a region primed to grow again from 2021 onwards… 4With more than a year having now and its new chief operating officer are tipped to surge, and, having been passed since the UK first entered Steve Davison. supported by a strong contingency COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, the Having fallen from the Premier fund and access to Government landscape is beginning – thankfully – League down to League One, the schemes, we hear why the to show signs of positivity. club is in the process of mounting a Northumberland attraction is primed The vaccine rollout is delivering return to the top table, having hit the for a strong summer. new energy to a nation left exhausted reset button just weeks ago when And we continue the theme in by remote working, home schooling Swiss billionaire Kyril Louis-Dreyfus our interview with Peter Rolton, of and the long-term shutdown of leisure completed a takeover. Britishvolt, wherein he tells us about activities – not to mention the stresses With the Black Cats having ended the company’s plans for a £2.6 billion, of furlough and job losses – as the their recent Wembley hoodoo to lift 3000-job Northumberland gigaplant. country enters the first days of spring. the Papa John’s Trophy last month, we Earmarked to drive forward next It puts me in mind of a phrase that speak to Steve to find out more about generation automotive power work, it has really entered parlance during the new regime’s plans for success, epitomises another resetting, this time the last 12 months – ‘hitting the reset both on and off the field, which of the country’s carbon output.