Business

A Teesside University lecturer and acclaimed film producer is to have his latest documentary screened at an international festival in America.

Island of the Hungry Ghosts is the latest offering from Third Films and will have its world premiere at the renowned Tribeca Film Festival in New York next month.

It will be shown alongside The Fourth Estate, from Oscar-nominated director Liz Garbus, which follows the New York Times’ coverage of the Trump administration’s first year, as well as Drake Doremus’ sci-fi romance Zoe, starring Ewan McGregor.

Samm Haillay is a Senior Lecturer in Media Production in Teesside University’s School of Computing, Media & the Arts. He is also Lead Producer at Third Films which has eight feature films to its name – including Bypass which premiered at the Venice and London Film Festivals and was distributed worldwide across platforms including Amazon, BT TV and iTunes.

Island of the Hungry Ghosts is one of 12 films that will be screened in the documentary competition section of the Tribeca Film Festival, which runs from 18 to 29 April.

It has received funding from the British Film Industry, as well as funders in Germany and Australia.

Directed by Gabrielle Brady, the feature length documentary is set on the remote Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. The island is one of the last discovered places on earth, with humans having migrated to its shores less than a century ago.

Local islanders carry out their ‘hungry ghost’ rituals for the spirits of those who died on the island without a proper burial and they make offerings to appease the lost souls who are said to be wandering the jungles at night without a home.

The film centres on Poh Lin, a trauma counsellor living on the island with her young family and whose job it is to work with people trying to seek asylum to Australia who have been detained in the high security detention facility within the jungle.

Samm will be traveling to New York with the Director and other members of the production team next month for the festival. Autlook Film Sales has also been appointed with the brief of selling the film to buyers and distributors.

“It is a fantastic opportunity and one that will provide a platform for a great deal of exposure,” explained Samm.

“We are all immensely proud and are hoping it is well-received. It is a beautiful film which has taken us three years to make. It says so much and manages to be hugely political without making one political statement.

“For a film by a debut director to be selected for such a prestigious festival is a marvellous achievement.”

This will be the 17th Tribeca Film Festival, with the event championing new and emerging talent, while also celebrating new work from established filmmakers. This year’s event will feature 96 films and includes 74 world premieres and a host of international and American premieres.

The leading architect on the masterplan for the historic Middlesbrough Railway Station has told how the design can be a further catalyst for city-scale developments.

Peter Jenkins, Architect Director and Head of Transport Sector at BDP – global leaders in their field – said the proposals would also preserve the history of the iconic Victorian-built station and provide big benefits to passengers.

The proposals are the result of a commission – led by Middlesbrough Council with support from Network Rail, Tees Valley Combined Authority and the rail franchisees – to provide a long-term vision for the rail station and the surrounding area.

Middlesbrough Council and Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald are now working alongside the rail industry in the form of a joint programme board to realise both the site’s ambition and strategic potential over the coming years.

Award winning Mr Jenkins, who has been recognised for his work on the major redevelopments of Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly stations, said: “Our designs are focused on celebrating the qualities of the existing station alongside the creation of new facilities to accommodate additional intercity services.

“The fine qualities of the listed buildings and unique activities such as Platform Arts cannot be fully appreciated today and we want to make sure all visitors can understand more of the historic station.

“The forthcoming introduction of direct services to London, and the need for additional platform capacity, are an opportunity to transform the northern aspect of the station which the design intends to benefit from.

“It goes without saying that the Virgin Trains East Coast services will have a transformative effect on the town in terms of the train connections provided.

“Our design aims to unlock further value from this change, with the new platform and canopy structures combined with a new entrance and interchange facility on Bridge Street. This will transform the appearance and identity of the station from Middlehaven, catalysing developments to the north of the station.

“Many station masterplans can lack the impetus to become reality; this is not the case in Middlesbrough, where infrastructure expansion (VTEC services to London) and local support can ensure a successful redevelopment of the station complex, to the benefit of both rail passengers and local residents alike.”

The Middlesbrough concept – which offers short term proposals and a longer term vision – includes:

• The re-opening of the southern entrance.
• A stunning new glass frontage and concourse on Bridge Street.
• An additional platform.
• New commercial units.
• Additional passenger facilities and;
• Improved access for sustainable modes of transport such as buses, taxis, cars and cycles.

It will build upon work which is shortly to be complete in the form of Network Rail’s station renewals project that will see the completion of a 13 month, £3m project to repair the roof and stonework of the main station building.

Additionally, direct trains to London are due to begin from Middlesbrough in 2020.

The BDP plans have already been praised by Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald as fitting “entirely with our European City aspirations” and as an “absolutely breathtakingly impressive proposal”, while Middlesbrough’s Elected Mayor Dave Budd said the plans were now a “central part of Middlesbrough Council’s investment plans to grow the local economy in line with our city scale ambitions”.

A local business has been awarded the prestigious Investors in People status for its ongoing commitment to providing training and development opportunities for its staff.

Middlesbrough based Eemits Communications – specialists in providing ultra-smart digital two-way radio solutions – received the status on the back of recently being re-accredited to the ISO9001 Quality Assurance standard, whilst also passing its annual ISO14001 Environmental Management standards.

Established in 1986, Eemits provides seamless two-way radio communications to a range of sectors including manufacturing, petrochemical, utilities and public sectors. The company has worked with major companies including the likes of EDF Energy Nuclear, Lucite International, CF Fertilisers and Go-Ahead Group.

The company very first achieved Investors in People in 2005 and has maintained its accreditation throughout the period to date. The status is awarded to businesses that demonstrate high performance in business and people management.

Speaking about achieving Investors in People status, Craig Matthews, Managing Director at Eemits Communications said: “We are delighted to have once again achieved this status and fly the flag for businesses within the region. People are our most important asset, and as such, we continue to invest in their development with Eemits to ensure that all team members progress, and most importantly, feel valued within the business.

“Achieving this status, along with our ISO accreditations, following a series of stringent assessments, reflects the dedication, attention to detail and hard work that goes into all of our business operations as we continue to strive for excellence.

“We believe that our commitment to staff and their development, instilling passion and enthusiasm with a can-do attitude, ensures that we continue to provide excellent customer service. And that is exactly what Eemits is known for.”

Most recently the company launched its flagship solution – TRBOCALL – a unique and flexible modular platform that provides seamless communications for businesses. Comprising six elements – infrastructure, hardware, software, features, service wrap and accessories – the system helps businesses to significantly improve their safety, whilst driving operational efficiencies and increasing productivity.

Customers who have already invested in the innovative TRBOCALL system include Chemoxy International Ltd, Falck Fire Services UK and Northumbrian Water.

Following on from the launch, the company has ambitious growth plans to increase turnover by 25% over the next year, looking to employ a further three people over the next coming months.

Eemits Communications employs 14 staff and operates from its headquarters at Riverside Park, Middlesbrough. The company prides itself on its ability to help its clients to significantly improve its safety, drive operational efficiencies whilst increasing productivity with its unique ultra smart two-way radio communications solutions.

A masterplan to develop the historic Middlesbrough Railway Station into a destination fit for a city – and described as a “game changer” – is unveiled today.

The concept – which offers short term proposals and a longer term vision – includes:

• The re-opening of the southern entrance.
• A stunning new glass frontage and concourse on Bridge Street.
• An additional platform.
• New commercial units.
• Additional passenger facilities and;
• Improved access for sustainable modes of transport such as buses, taxis, cars and cycles.

All of the ongoing design work also aims to protect, enhance and complement the station’s Victorian heritage, beauty and splendour.

The proposals are the result of a commission – led by Middlesbrough Council with support from Network Rail, Tees Valley Combined Authority and the rail franchisees – to provide a long-term vision for the rail station and the surrounding area.

As a result of the commission, Middlesbrough Council and Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald are working alongside the rail industry in the form of a joint programme board to realise both the site’s ambition and strategic potential over the coming years.

It will build upon work which is shortly to be complete in the form of Network Rail’s station renewals project that will see the completion of a 13 month, £3m project to repair the roof and stonework of the main station building.

Additionally, direct trains to London are due to begin from Middlesbrough in 2020.

Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd said: “Middlesbrough Railway Station is at the heart of our historic quarter and a central part of Middlesbrough Council’s investment plans to grow the local economy in line with our city scale ambitions.

“These proposals would make our iconic station even more attractive and also make better use of the space inside. Clearly, we are at an early stage, but it is wonderful to be able to make our ambitions public. The projects programme board will now begin action on how we can collaboratively work together to achieve this.”

Mr McDonald said: “The Consultants BDP have done some stunning visionary work that not only sees the station restored to its 19^th century splendour including the southern Zetland Road elevation and the improved usage of the concourse and booking hall – much as the architect originally intended when the station as first designed- but transformationally presents a 21^st century northern façade out onto Bridge Street that fits entirely with our European City aspirations and opens out into the emerging cityscape of Middlehaven. It’s an absolutely breathtakingly impressive proposal.

“What the entire proposal presents is a 21^st century transport hub that is fit for purpose. This will be a game changer for Middlesbrough and the wider Tees Valley economy.

“So I heartily congratulate Middlesbrough Council, the Mayor Dave Budd, his fellow Councillors and the superb officers who have driven this initiative forward and for the commitment that the Council has made to secure the achievements to date.”

Transport for the North has commenced a thirteen-week consultation on its Strategic Transport Plan for the North, inviting people’s views at an event being held in Tees Valley next Tuesday.

Senior Transport for the North representatives will be visiting Stockton-on-Tees as part of a dedicated session to outline the plan’s recommendations, advise on what this could mean for Tees Valley and the surrounding area and invite questions and feedback that people may have.

Councillor Bill Dixon, Tees Valley Combined Authority Cabinet Member for Transport said: “We’ve worked in partnership with Transport for the North to deliver a plan that could improve the lives of residents, visitors and businesses across the Tees Valley, and support our work to drive economic growth and improve quality of life.

“I urge people and businesses to have their say and help us to shape and improve the region for generations to come.”

Barry White, CEO, Transport for the North said: “An incredible amount of work has gone into the production of the draft Strategic Transport Plan including collaboration between the public and private sector across the whole of the North.

“The plan is underpinned with a robust evidence base making a compelling case for the investment priorities that would transform the economy of the North and the UK as a whole. I’m delighted that we’re now in a position to share this work with the public and invite their questions and comments. This is crucial to ensuring the plan is fit for purpose and meets the needs and aspirations of those who will benefit from improved infrastructure and economic prosperity, the citizens of the North.

“This is first time transport in the North has been looked at on a pan-northern level offering a unique opportunity for everyone to have their say on what matters to them in their areas.  I’d encourage people to attend the event.”

The drop-in consultation is open to everyone and is an opportunity for members of the public to formally submit their feedback on the plan which will be analysed and fed into the final Strategic Transport Plan before its release later in the year.

The event will be held at The Arc, Stockton-on-Tees, between 4pm – 7pm on Tuesday 6 March.

Event schedule:

4pm – 5pm: Presentation from Transport for the North representative and Q+A

5pm – 6pm: Drop-in Q+A

6pm – 7pm: Presentation from Transport for the North representative and Q+A

The thirty-year plan, which was released in draft on Tuesday 16 January, is the first of its kind and outlines how transport connections across the North of England need to be transformed by 2050 to drive growth and close the economic gap between the North and the rest of England.

Transport for the North’s public consultation runs until 17 April 2018 with similar engagement events taking place across the North. A final version of the plan will be published later in the year and submitted to the Government for ministerial consideration.

Find out more by visiting www.transportforthenorth.com/stp.

Representatives from the world’s oldest independent scientific society visited Teesside University to learn about the work that it is doing to forge links between industry and academia.

Dr Katy Gearing, Head of Industry Engagement at the Royal Society, and her colleague, Industry Programme Manager Dr Alasdair Taylor, met with staff from the University to learn about how it is collaborating with businesses in the Tees Valley and beyond.

The Royal Society is the independent scientific academy of the UK and the Commonwealth, dedicated to promoting excellence in science.

The Royal Society will be coming to the Great Exhibition of the North later this year and Dr Gearing and Dr Taylor were visiting the region to find out about examples of how universities collaborate with business.

Dr Gearing said: “We’re looking at how industry and academia can work together and ways in which we can improve that and put people in touch with each other.

“The ability to move between industry and academia is really important with real societal and economic benefits.

“The Government has committed to investing 2.4% of GDP in Research and Development.

“To help them achieve that we need to understand the nuance of the different regions and look at great examples of good practice to understand how we can better support the national economy.”

Teesside University has an established track record for working with business. It recently was awarded the Putting the Customer First standard for the fifth time in succession for its business engagement work.

The University has also just started construction of the £22.3 million National Horizons Centre, a research, teaching and training facility which will help drive economic growth in the regional and national bioscience industries through industry-focused education and training and collaborative research and innovation.

Laura Woods, Director of The Forge, Teesside University’s business hub, said: “As an anchor institution for the Tees Valley, Teesside University makes it a key part of its mission to help drive economic growth through skills, knowledge and partnership with industry.

“The Royal Society has an immense reputation and we were delighted that Dr Gearing and Dr Taylor took such an interest in the wide range of work that the University does with business.”

For more information on Teesside University work with business visit www.tees.ac.uk/business.

Big things are happening in Middlesbrough – and 2018 looks set to build on a burgeoning sense confidence and momentum.

The signs of inward investment are everywhere to be seen, from a thriving bar and restaurant scene to major leisure and infrastructure developments.

The Investment Prospectus, launched last spring, was a bold statement of Middlesbrough’s city-scale ambitions that has attracted interest from across the country.

Integral to the vision is a thriving city centre – with 21st Century retail, leisure, commercial and night-time economies – with Middlesbrough’s growth a key driver in the wider Tees Valley.

To continue the upward trend, Middlesbrough Council has appointed Michelle McPhee as its Town Centre Manager, and she’s already a familiar face to many of those who work and do business here.

Michelle has 18 years’ experience within regeneration at the Council and has spearheaded many of the business support and economic regeneration initiatives that have helped to protect and develop a bustling and successful town centre.

Key achievements include the hugely successful transformation of Baker and Bedford Streets, the development of Orange Pip Market and the arrival of Bistrot Pierre.

Michelle is also leading the projects to develop Grade A office space in Centre Square and create a city centre Media and Innovation Village.

In her new role she will lead on the strategic development and operational management of the town centre, co-ordinating the Council’s resources and ensuring a dynamic approach that supports stakeholders, investors and entrepreneurs.

Michelle said: “I’ve been proud to play a part in Middlesbrough’s growth over the last few years, and this new role is a chance to help build a truly unique brand and identity.

“Middlesbrough is a fantastic place with a rich heritage and the ambition and vision to create an exciting and prosperous future for itself.

“We’re already hard at work making that vision a reality, and I’ve been enormously encouraged by the enthusiasm and commitment of businesses, retailers and partners in the public and private sectors.”

Over the coming months, Michelle will work with a range of partners to further cement Middlesbrough’s status as the place for shopping, working, urban living and business.

The focus will also be on re-balancing the city centre economy, enhancing the visitor experience and growing the city centre customer base.

She will also work closely with the Council’s events and culture teams on the delivery of events programmes that boost visitor numbers and income generation and create jobs.

Michelle added: “There are challenges, of course, but equally the potential to make a real difference to people’s lives is huge.

“Middlesbrough is on the verge of an amazing new chapter in its history, and I’m looking forward to playing my part in making that happen.”

Kevin Parkes, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Director of Growth and Place, said: “Middlesbrough has fared better than many towns and cities over the last few years, and that is in no small part down to the work of officers like Michelle.

“Her knowledge of the city centre and what makes it tick is second to none, and she combines that with an unshakeable belief in Middlesbrough’s potential.

“In the pivotal role of Town Centre Manager she will help take Middlesbrough to the next level, and a truly exciting new phase in its history.”

A team of entrepreneurs are gearing up for significant growth following the launch of a unique new sportswear brand.

Established by entrepreneurs Rob Webbon, Peter Lillie and Guy Whitby, Presca is set to rival some of the biggest names in the sporting world with its unique and disruptive approach to sportswear manufacturing.

The company focuses on creating performance sportswear from recycled materials, including plastic bottles and abandoned fishing nets, and will specialise in innovative cycling, triathlon and athletic teamwear.

Launched as a result of the continued growth of its award-winning sister company, GRN Sportswear Ltd, the new brand’s teamwear product range includes the world’s most sustainable cycling skin suit as well as jerseys, shorts and tri suits, all of which will be manufactured in the UK.

“We are bringing something totally unique and different to the market, and as a result, creating the Presca brand has enabled us to establish a strong market proposition for teamwear to ensure we are strategically focussed on our ambitious growth plans” said Peter Lillie, Commercial Director at Presca.

“Our vision has always been to create sports clothing that was technically advanced and ethically sourced and the Presca brand will specialise in creating custom-made teamwear for clubs, charities and companies of all sizes” added CEO, Rob Webbon.

Tested by elite cyclists, the product has already been shortlisted for the Best Sustainability Initiative award at the BT Sports Industry Awards, competing alongside some of the biggest names in sport.

“There’s nothing else like it in the teamwear market – we are really driving innovation by offering sustainable, high performance products” added Operations Director, Guy Whitby.

With further investment planned in R&D and manufacturing in 2018, and sales figures expected to triple in the next financial year, the company is committed to finding new and innovative ways to improve the performance teamwear market whilst facing today’s environmental challenges head on.

Presca teamwear is set to launch at the London Bike Show 2018, which takes place at the ExCel from 23rd – 25th February.

Middlesbrough’s major economic ambitions have been boosted with it being named one of the Top 10 Small Cities in Europe by the Financial Times.

The high profile listing comes in a report entitled European Cities and Regions of the Future 2018-19 which asks the question “With Europe in flux, which locations have investment potential for the long haul?”

The report has been compiled by an FT supplement – fDi magazine – which looks at potential for foreign direct investment (FDI). Middlesbrough was listed at number nine for small cities in Europe with its strategy to attract foreign investment.

A small city is categorised as having less than 1.5m people.

Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd said: “Middlesbrough has a rich history of industry, innovation and pioneering exploration, and we’re building on that in the 21^st Century with a booming city centre economy, burgeoning digital and creative sectors and a thriving University.

“This recognition further underpins our potential for global investment, and marks Middlesbrough out as a beacon of ambition, regeneration and prosperity.

“Not so long ago Boro fans were chanting about Middlesbrough being a ‘small town in Europe’ with our usual self-effacing pride and good humour. It is great to see us now being recognised for our city-scale economic ambitions beyond the UK’s borders.”

Middlesbrough Council’s Investment Prospectus is the central plank of the economic development being seen in the town’s centre – or city heart – which will see the authority invest £74m in order to unlock more than £600m of private inward investment and secure 600 new jobs.

Among the projects happening are the £22.46 million Tees Advanced Manufacturing Park (TAMP) – based on the historic South West Ironmasters site – which is aimed at high productivity cutting edge manufacturing companies looking for a prime location in one of the UK’s key regeneration areas.

Other key projects include the proposed snow centre and the building of five new office blocks to the east of Centre Square to attract 1,500 new jobs and to re-home Middlesbrough Council staff.

Courtney Fingar, fDi Magazine’s editor-in-chief said: “In an ever more competitive global investment landscape and at a time when Europe is moving into a new political chapter with continuing uncertainties, it is equally challenging and important for cities and regions across Europe to bolster their appeal for foreign direct investment.

“fDi Magazine’s rankings are the result of a detailed, in-depth benchmarking exercise to determine the European locations with the brightest prospects for future inward investment. We applaud the success of all cities and regions in these rankings.”

An international blue-chip turbocharger manufacturer has significantly enhanced the safety of its employees performing lone worker operations through the implementation of a tailored digital two-way radio modular platform delivered by the North East’s leading communication specialist.

Middlesbrough based Eemits Communications provided the company with a lone working two-way system fully integrated across ten buildings including eight high voltage substations and two production buildings at the company’s UK facilities based in the North of England.

The new system in place – TRBOCALL – comprises six elements from infrastructure, hardware and software right through to service wrap, features and accessories. Eemits tailored each element of the system to suit both the business needs of the company, whilst also optimising the coverage of the radios across all sites.

With safety of paramount importance across the turbocharger manufacturer’s extensive facilities, some of which include high hazard zones, to ensure the company’s lone workers are protected at all times, Eemits integrated a series of software applications to the systems radio devices. These included a series of lone working solutions; panic button which can be activated by workers in need of assistance; a man down feature that triggers if a worker has a trip or fall and if the worker is unresponsive for a period of time an alarm will sound; and GPS and internal tracking allowing the company to monitor the location of its lone workers at all times.

Consisting of a series of i-beacons connecting to radio handsets via built in Bluetooth and GPS, internal and external, geographical information is relayed onto a series of site maps which is available to access via the company’s central computers. For additional safety the company further opted to setup geofences, which means that if workers step into an unallocated area, an alarm will be raised within its central office.

Speaking about the successful contract delivery, Dr Craig Matthews, Managing Director at Eemits said: “We are delighted to have worked closely with the leading turbocharging manufacturer to develop a modular platform solution that significantly improves the safety of its lone workers, providing full reassurance for the business, and most importantly, its staff.

“Our TRBOCALL system really propels radio communications into the digital age and demonstrates how advancement in technologies can be integrated into daily communications within a business, which ultimately has seen our clients not only increase their safety, but also improve productivity whilst driving efficiencies. And what’s more is businesses can tailor the system to suit its individual needs.

“Safety can never be underestimated – and staggeringly only 6% of lone workers in the UK are protected with radio communications devices – a figure which we would like to help to dramatically increase with the implementation of our unique modular platform to enable businesses to protect its workforce.”

Established in 1986, Eemits Communications operates from its headquarters at Riverside Park, Middlesbrough. The company boasts an impressive client portfolio including EDF Energy Nuclear, Lucite International, CF Fertilisers and Go Ahead Group.