Current Issue: Winter 2010
Joint Networking brings huge Business Benefits
More than 200 people gathered at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light to showcase their businesses and learn a little more about social media.
The event – jointly hosted by Durham Business Club, Sunderland Business Network and the South Tyneside Business Network – was the biggest ever organised by the three networks.
Bryan Hoare, chairman of Durham Business Club, said: “It was fantastic to get more than 200 business people attending the event and its success exceeded even our own expectations.
“There was a real buzz and I know everyone was able to make some decent business contacts as well as building on their knowledge and expertise.”
The event was sponsored by UK Trade & Investment and Lloyds TSB and included a presentation about the business benefits of social networking delivered by Pascal Fintoni, Chief Executive of The Centre for eBusiness.
There was also an exhibition showcasing more than 50 businesses from across the North East. One business owner attending the event was Nevil Tynemouth of New Results Training, based in Houghton-le-Spring.
Nevil said: “It was one of the best networking events that I have attended with excellent organisation, facilities and most of all turn out. I have spoken to several new potential customers as a direct result of the evening and everyone seemed to have a similar positive experience.”
North East Businesses Struggling with Liabilities
Over 3,840 companies in the North East are struggling under the weight of nearly £58 billion of liabilities nationally, according to the latest quarterly Red Flag Alert.
The report from Begbies Traynor found that the North East, like much of the rest of the UK, is showing continuing stability with reductions in the number of businesses experiencing financial distress in Q3 2010. There was a decrease of 7 per cent in the number of companies in the region with significant problems compared with the same period last year, close to the national average of a 9.5 per cent fall.
Key industry sectors continuing to suffer in the region remain construction (13 per cent with significant problems), other B2B services (17 per cent), retail (7 per cent) and property (9 per cent). Companies with critical problems saw an increase for some sectors: worst hit was engineering up from 4 per cent to 18 per cent; followed by financial services with a 3 per cent rise; and transport and communications, and IT (both up by 2 per cent).
Local Talent Assists in International Growth
Rapidly expanding North East company www.Hairextensions.co.uk has tapped in to the services offered by the University of Sunderland in order to expand its web design team and assist in the growth of its international online business.
Hairextensions.co.uk based in Seaham, County Durham, is quickly turning itself into a global brand and Managing Director Darren Williams was keen to utilise the skills of local graduates to assist in the development of his online website.
He contacted The Careers and Employability Service to tap in to a talent pool of skilled graduates. The employment service offered by the university enabled Darren to recruit a dedicated and talented local graduate who has since excelled in his role and significantly helped to develop the new website for a global marketplace.
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For further information visit www.printerfood.co.uk or call Mike on 0191 564 1234