14th July 2010 - An award winning year for Cornerstone

Chris Petty, founder of Cornerstone Solutions in Thornaby, is celebrating after an award winning first half of 2010.

Chris was crowned the 2011 Face of Entrepreneurship for Middleborough after coming through a tough judging period in the 3rd annual If we can, you can Challenge, run by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum. After being shortlisted from over 100 entrants, Chris faced a panel of fellow entrepreneurs who not only scored him on his vision for success and determination to succeed, they gave him some valuable advice and guidance to help his business realize its ambitious growth plans.

After impressing the judges, Chris was chosen as one of the ‘final two’ entrants alongside Callum Miller who owns car engineer re-manufacturing company Turbo Connect. The two then went head to head in a high profile public vote. Over 3,000 votes flooded in as people voted for their favourite business after following the finalist’s entrepreneurial journey in the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette and online at www.ifwecanyoucan.co.uk. Chris was declared the winner on the 13th June.

Chris said:
“It is absolutely amazing to have been chosen as the winner of this year’s Challenge. Considering I was up against such tough competition in Callum, I am really thrilled to have won.

“Winning this accolade really makes all the hard work worthwhile and a testament to all those that have supported me along the way including my family. I am proud to represent North East England and the Gazette as a face of entrepreneurship.”

Chris and Callum are now helping to inspire budding and fellow entrepreneurs of all ages who are considering, starting or growing their own business.

The If we can, you can accolade is just one of the awards bestowed to Chris and his team at Cornerstone this year. The company also won the Service Award at the nebusiness awards held at Middlesbrough Football Club and went on to win the overall award to be named the best new business in the Tees valley.

The Best New Business Awards, which are co-promoted by Business Link, are now in the tenth year having been set up by local independent financial advisor Colin Brown who wanted the award to recognize successful new businesses in the Tees Valley.

Colin said, “These awards recognize the talent that there is here in the North East. Even in these challenging times for business we’ve discovered some great businesses which we predict will be winning various awards in years to come.

Cornerstone Solutions was set up by Chris and his fellow directors in June 2008 with a desire to get back to the more traditional approach to customer service in the IT support industry.

Chris said, “It’s amazing to be part of the Best New Business Awards and to win our own category was fantastic. But to win the overall award is massive and means a lot to us.”

14th July 2010 - Uniquethinking strikes lucky for cricket charity

A national cricket charity recently turned to a Newcastle based creative agency to help stump up some press for one of their biggest initiatives to date.

Uniquethinking, based in Newcastle’s Ouseburn Valley, organised some impressive national coverage for a charity Cricket Day recently with some special celebrity guests in attendance.

In the North East, England cricketers Graham Onions and Danielle Hazell went back to school, teaching pupils a series of both physical and mental cricket themed activities at Northwood Primary School in Darlington.

The day was part of a national event that aims to raise awareness of ‘Chance to Shine’, supported by Brit Insurance, which is part of The Cricket Foundation’s campaign to educate more than two million children through cricket by 2015.

During the day, children from all over the country took part in cricket classes, break-time batting and bowling and extra-curricular cricket competitions, along with special cricket-themed lessons in maths, literacy and geography.

Sam Hook, managing director of Uniquethinking said: “We are proud to have produced such excellent results for ‘Chance to Shine’ and given this huge campaign an even bigger boost. The organisation helps young children all over the country get involved with others, work as a team and get outside which are great skills to learn at a young age.”

Chance to Shine is one of the biggest school sport development initiatives ever undertaken in Britain. This year it marked its fifth anniversary and the one millionth child to benefit from the £50 million campaign.

2nd July 2010 - Aspire Technology Solutions Win at STEP Awards

Aspire Technology Solutions were shortlisted for the Innovation in Technology category in the South Tyneside Enterprise Partnership (STEP) Business Awards 2010.

The awards, now in their 13th year, are open to any business based in South Tyneside and celebrate the success of local entrepreneurs and businesses, as well as encouraging and inspiring others.

Amongst strong competition the Aspire team were proud to be named the Winners of the Innovation in Technology Award.

The Aspire Directors team recognise that Awards such as this one are in recognition of the hard work and dedication of all of our staff.

1st July 2010 - Staying On The Rails With Angel Fund

A Tyneside manufacturing firm has landed significant investment to help turn its revolutionary new guardrail system into reality.

Preforma Limited, of Jarrow, has received £200,000 from the North East Angel Fund – one of the six regional funds set up earlier this year under the Finance for Business programme, a programme run by North East Finance Limited, the holding fund manager.

The company hopes its patented design for modular guardrails will be used on projects such as the new Tyne Tunnel and at sports stadiums and power plants across the world.

The investment is the first made by the North East Angel Fund, which is operated by Rivers Capital Partners Limited and managed by E-Synergy Limited. The investment includes £50,000 from Newcastle-based engineering group British Engines Limited.

Gary Smith, Managing Director of Preforma Limited, said: “I am very pleased to have achieved this investment from the North East Angel Fund. The money will be used to help us develop our product and sell it all over the world from our base here in the region.

“The investment process was very professionally handled throughout and it was clear that the Rivers Capital team understood my business and the opportunities that are available to it.”

John White, Chief Executive Officer of E-Synergy Limited and Rivers Capital Partners Limited, said: “We are delighted to have completed the first deal from the North East Angel Fund. We spotted the product’s potential immediately and our team have worked very closely with Gary to get the deal done.

“I’m sure that Preforma, which is just the type of business which we are looking to invest in, will go on to become the success which we all believe it can be.”

Dale Fowler, a business consultant who is joining Preforma Limited as their Financial Director, added: “It has been a pleasure to assist Garry raise finance for an extremely well designed product that will be welcomed by industry for its quality and labour saving uses.”

Alex Lamb, Chairman of British Engines Limited, added: “We are pleased to have the opportunity to invest in this new venture. We expect Preforma to have a bright future and look forward to sharing in its success.”

Ward Hadaway provided legal advice to Rivers Capital Partners Limited and RTC North provided business advice to Preforma Limited.

The Finance for Business North East Fund, which is part of the Government’s Solutions for Business Portfolio, is funded by the European Investment Bank, European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013 and One North East.

30th June 2010 - Entrepreneurs' Forum to "Rock on" for Teenage Cancer Trust - helping young people fight cancer

NORTH-EAST entrepreneurs will once again step out for an evening of fundraising this autumn as the Entrepreneurs’ Forum host their eagerly anticipated annual gala ball, celebrating British Rock and Pop at the Hilton Hotel, Gateshead on Saturday, October 9 in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust.

The Entrepreneurs’ Forum’s charity ball has become a firm favourite in the diaries of many North East businesses and this year’s will be no exception. With the generosity and support of Forum guests, sponsors and partners, we have raised a staggering £415,000 over the past seven years for worthy causes in the region.

Teenage Cancer Trust funds specialist teenage cancer units in NHS hospitals that are designed to give teenagers the very best chance of a positive outcome. There are currently 16 of these units around the UK including one at the Great North Children’s Hospital. This year’s prestigious charity event will raise funds for a new eight-bed unit at The Freeman Hospital, offering services for teenage and young adult cancer patients across the North East and surrounding areas.

Carole Beverley, Chief Executive of Entrepreneurs’ Forum said “Teenage Cancer Trust is a fantastic charity striving to make life better for young people in our region. It’s important to recognise that teenagers have different needs from children and adults; they want a place where they can chill out, where people aren’t afraid to visit and to that end, it’s important that we do what we can to help. The new facilities provide the very best environment creating a “home from home” atmosphere, for what can be very difficult periods of hospital treatment for young people who don’t want to be treated differently just because they have cancer.

“At a time when most charities are finding fundraising difficult in the current climate, we are both privileged and humbled to be working with TCT on this hugely popular event. We are hopeful that with the continued support from our members and guests, this year’s event will help us to raise much needed funds for our adopted charity. I’m looking forward to seeing a record number of business leaders from our region come out and support us.

With the monies already raised through our recent Everest base camp trek, we are well on our way to achieving a record amount but we still need help in supporting young cancer patients in our region this year.”

Angie Jenkison, Teenage Cancer Trust’s Regional Appeals Manager said “I’m absolutely thrilled to be working with the Entrepreneurs’ Forum this autumn. Every day in the UK, six young people are told they have cancer. It would be fantastic if TCT can count on even more local support at this October’s event, to make a real difference to the lives and survival of local young cancer patients."

For more information or to make a donation visit: www.teenagecancertrust.org/Northeast

To find out more information about this event or to purchase tickets please call Victoria or Rachel on 0870 8502233 or email info@entrepreneursforum.net

Date: Saturday 9th October

Venue: Hilton Hotel, Gateshead

Drinks Reception: 7.00pm

Carriages: 1.00 am

Tickets: £1000 + VAT for a table of 10 or

£100 + VAT per person

30th June 2010 - Access All Areas

The Difference Engine is the brainchild of Jon Bradford, CEO of Difference Engine and ex-investment manager for North East Finance. It is a full time, 13-week seed accelerator programme, which combines investment capital of £20,000 (for 8% of the business) with intensive mentoring and coaching (rumour has it that the teams worked up to 16-hour days). At the conclusion of the programme the businesses were expected to be investor ready, and had to present their businesses and products to a group of venture capitalists and angel investors at 2 demo days, one in Newcastle and one in London.

The first programme commenced in March 2010 and ran from Boho One located in Middleborough with 9 teams from across the UK and Europe. The second programme will start in September 2010 and will be based from Sunderland Software City. The closing date for applications for the next round is 25th July.

On the 13th July 2010, they are opening the doors to give you a unique opportunity to see what it is really like inside the turning cogs that is the Difference Engine. For this night only it will be Access All Areas with presentations from both the mentors and the teams, followed by a Question Time style panel, where you can ask all your burning questions.

If you are a potential applicant, thinking about becoming a mentor, or just generally interested to find out what the Difference Engine really is and how it is valuable to the region, then this is the perfect event for you.

There will be refreshments and nibbles on arrival and a drinks reception to follow, where you can meet and chat to all those involved in the Difference Engine programme.

Time: 18:00 – 21:00

Venue: Newcastle City Library, Bewick Hall

Please reserve your place, as space is limited.

This event is brought to you by Sailor Girl ltd. For more information please contact them at http://www.sailorgirlltd.com/contact-us.

29th June 2010 - New engineer-led business to focus on offshore wind

Entrepreneurs' Forum member Tony Trapp is pleased to announce the creation of a new business, called O-Power Limited.

O-Power (OP) will develop new technology in offshore engineering and hopes to make a significant contribution to the rapidly growing offshore wind market. OP offers concept development and analysis, right through to the supply and installation of product. It will use the human, physical and business resources of NE England to provide attractive and competitive engineering solutions - always aimed at improving technology.

O-Power is an independent company founded and staffed by a team of engineers. It is based in Northumberland. The creation of OP is supported by IHC Merwede, the world market leader in the construction of specialist dredging equipment and a major supplier of specialist offshore technology and vessels. IHC Merwede is based in the Netherlands, and owns IHC Engineering Business Limited (EB). Tony Trapp is non-executive chairman of EB, and with three colleagues founded EB in 1997.

The OP team has long experience in the design and build of many kinds of offshore systems in offshore wind, wave and tidal stream, oil and gas, submarine telecom and defence. It will now apply this expertise to the development of effective and commercially realistic solutions for offshore wind.

“I am really excited to be starting this new venture with such a talented and enthusiastic group of people. We plan to rapidly expand the O-Power team with inspired and determined engineers who have in themselves, the basic ingredients of ambition, belief and courage” says OP’s CEO Tony Trapp. “I am confident that we can develop some excellent engineering solutions that can help to make a difference to offshore wind systems, improving the technology to increase safety and reduce cost.”

For further information, please contact team@o-power.com and refer to www.o-power.com