Despite the volatility of recent weeks, there have been high points for regional businesses in 2018 and North East Times has decided to celebrate some of these with its first Impact Awards. Thank you to everyone who made nominations and congratulations to our winners: Lesley Spuhler, Steve Parkin, Jim Mawdsley, John Savage and Neil Herron. Extra applause also goes to Lesley, who takes our Outstanding Impact Award 2018.
Now in its second year, this issue looks at the individuals and organisations that are making waves in the industry regionally, nationally, and internationally.
This year, we’ve focused on those who are thinking ‘outside the box’ when it comes to architecture, design and construction.
Our cover star, designer Wayne Hemingway, reflects on the reasons for choosing Gateshead as the location for his innovative Staiths South Bank development, and reveals how it looked to reimaging residential living.
North East Times returns with its third Women’s Issue. Since our second issue, a lot has happened. Social media campaigns such as #TimesUp and #MeToo have gone viral and helped spark debate around attitudes to gender in society. I hope that this debate continues and real change can be achieved.
This issue again celebrates just some of the amazing women who are achieving great things in our region – spanning all levels and sectors. I’d like to thank Arwen Duddington, COO at ZeroLight, Estelle Blanks executive director at Innovation SuperNetwork and Joanna Feeley, founder of Trend Bible, for telling their inspiring stories, as well as the countless other women – and men – who have contributed to this issue.
This month, North East Times brings you our second Sports Issue. As well as showcasing well-known sporting personalities with links to the region, we look at the sector’s commercialisation and the significance to the North East. Our cover star this month is director of rugby, Dean Richards, who has led Newcastle Falcons to its best season in two decades – a top four finish in the Aviva Premiership. He reflects on the recent accomplishments at the club and why he and his players are hungry for more.
Our third Money Issue returns this summer and highlights the wealth journey of making and growing and, hopefully, sharing money. We again feature on the cover a business person who personifies this wealth journey. Andy Preston made his millions as a stock broker and hedge fund manager in the City before returning to his hometown of Teesside, where he has set up several charities to help local poverty and homelessness.
This month, we wanted to tell the truly inspirational stories of some of the people who have achieved amazing things in our region – overcoming major challenges to do so. Sir John Hall exceeded the expectations of a miner’s son to become a millionaire property developer. He has made an indelible mark on the North East – with the MetroCentre, Wynyard Estate and his ownership of Newcastle United – as well as being a vocal advocate for the region on a national level.
This month we look at the impact the North East is making on the rest of the world. Our region is the only one in the UK with a positive trade balance – we export more than we import – and this edition is packed with some of the fantastic and varied North East-based companies that are contributing to this distinguished fact – not least our cover star, Eldon Robson, who has taken his great-grandfather’s local botanical brewing business to success on the world stage.
Our popular Tech Issue returns for its third year and again celebrates the strength and depth of the North East’s tech and digital sector. Our cover star is one of the region’s most prominent tech figures. Paul Smith co-founded the Ignite accelerator programme in 2011 before relocating to the UAE to set up a similar initiative and joining Hyperloop One, Elon Musk’s project that is promising to revolutionise commuter travel around the world.
In our March issue, we look at the ways companies, organisations, individuals and even regions can create a strong identity and the benefits that brings. Our cover story is the man who has built a multi-million pound business by combining his passions of Reggae music and Caribbean sauces – with just a little help from some Dragons.
When asked what the best thing about the North East is, the answer you’ll almost always hear is… the people. We are renowned across the world for our friendly, can-do attitude and in this issue, we want to celebrate the GREAT people of the North East. Our cover star this month is Sir Gary Verity, chairman of the Great Exhibition of the North. We ask him why people should get behind the major event.
For the first issue of 2018, we take a look at the professional services sector. We’ve spoken to some of the key personnel and brands operating in the region and looked at the impact local firms are making regionally, nationally and internationally.
Our cover story reflects one of the biggest North East legal stories from last year – the combination of Womble Carlyle and Bond Dickinson into Womble Bond Dickinson. Betty Temple, CEO and chair, reflects on how the new transatlantic firm is set to benefit clients and employees alike.