2018 will be the year when the promise of Middlesbrough’s commercial property regeneration starts to become a reality, according to the town’s most experienced commercial property agent.
Stephen Brown, Senior Partner at Dodds Brown, says that there will be so much development going on in the town this year that it will be hard to keep pace.
Mr Brown says: “2018 will see the completion of the new restaurant and leisure destination on Albert Road and Centre Square, setting the trend for the regeneration of the whole of Albert Road. The lettings to Turtle Bay and Bistrot Pierre last year (2017) were a real turning point for Middlesbrough.
“Attracting these high quality national brands was a real game-changer in terms of external perceptions of the town and we are already seeing the benefits with the opening of Lane 7 Bowling and very strong interest in the remaining restaurant / bar units opposite Centre Square, and in units along Albert Road.”
According to Mr Brown, the launch of Tees Advanced Manufacturing Park (TAMP) last month (December 2017) providing 180,000 sq ft of prime industrial and manufacturing space, and the anticipated launch of 200,000 sq ft of grade A office accommodation in Centre Square later this year will finally give Middlesbrough the grade A business space which national organisations demand.
“It may be hard to believe but there is a real shortage of quality office accommodation and business space in the town. In fact there is no grade A office space available. TAMP and Centre Square will put Middlesbrough on the map as real business location, not just somewhere to be serviced from an office in Leeds or Newcastle,” continues Mr Brown, who has worked in commercial property in Teesside for more than 30 years.
“Many of the older existing offices in the town have already been converted for hotel or residential use, or adapted for the needs of other occupiers, and the rest will follow. The Holiday Inn Express Hotel used to be office space at Cook and Endeavour Houses, while more than half of the available space at Dundas House was taken by Middlesbrough Council for its new Live Well Centre.”
Further information on Middlesbrough developments is available from Stephen Brown on tel. 01642 244130 or by email: s.brown@doddsbrown.co.uk or via the firm’s website www.doddsbrown.co.uk
Tees Valley employers working in key sectors are being encouraged to recruit for an apprentice through a new grant scheme which aims to further establish the area as an innovative region for apprenticeship growth.
Apprenticeship Support for Employers (ASE) is provided by Tees Valley Combined Authority and offers excellent opportunities for employers in key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, chemical and process, and digital and creative, to grow and develop their workforce. It is designed to assist employers committed to creating a new apprenticeship or progressing an existing apprentice onto a higher level.
Several companies have already taken advantage of the support, welcoming new apprentices to their teams over the past couple of months.
Working closely with training providers, they will provide a valuable experience for their apprentices who will become the future generation of skilled workers in Tees Valley.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Now more than ever we need more of the skills that local businesses are crying out for. We are committed to increasing routes to great careers but we recognise employers need support. We are launching this funding scheme to address shortage by specifically targeting the sectors of our economy which have the highest growth potential.
“Tees Valley has a strong track record of encouraging apprenticeships, with recent growth far higher than national rates. I want to build on this success, and urge businesses to come forward and work with us so that we can invest in developing home-grown talent.”
The £1.3million scheme has been created following the previously successful Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE), devolved to the Combined Authority in 2016, which approved applications to support more than 1,000 apprentices.
It is hoped the new scheme will have an even greater impact by specifically focussing on growing skills and employment in key sectors that have been highlighted in Tees Valley’s Strategic Economic Plan.
These key sectors have been identified as; advanced manufacturing, process, chemicals and energy, logistics, health and biologics, digital and creative, culture and leisure and business and professional services.
Tees Valley employers in these sectors can apply for one of two grants.
Grant A
A grant of £2,500 per apprentice for small to medium businesses (under 250 employees) from priority sectors who employ an apprentice aged 19+.
or
Grant B
An initial grant of £500 per apprentice for small businesses (under 50 employees) who employ and apprentice aged 19-24 with an additional £500 if the apprentice is still employed after 13 months.
Proper research, understanding your costs, and having the right team are crucial if you want to succeed in business. In fact getting them wrong are the three main causes of small business failures.
You might be starting from scratch, taking a hobby full time, or moving an online business into premises for the first time, but with around half of all UK start-ups failing within five years, making sure you get everything right before you take the leap is time well spent.
David Harris, Manager at Middlesbrough’s Dundas Market uses his experience of running a busy indoor market, supporting more than 25 retail and service businesses, and the latest research into business failures, to give you his top three tips for starting a small retail business in 2018.
1. Do your research
Getting this wrong is the main reason why start-ups fail. 42% of business failures said it was down to lack of research. They had not tested their business idea, their pricing and their location well enough before they launched. Talk to as many people as you can about your idea, particularly others already running a business, and not just to family and friends who are likely to support your idea however good or bad it really is. Visit lots of locations, talk to shoppers, talk to neighbouring retailers, talk to management in markets and shopping centres. Vince Gibson who runs The Sweet Corner visited every market in the North East before he chose Dundas Market for his traditional sweet shop.
Find somewhere to test your concept, maybe at a weekly or monthly market, before committing to a permanent pitch. Dundas Market runs monthly food and craft markets, vintage and handmade markets, special markets such as Youth and Halloween Markets, and offers free trials for one week in May as part of the national Love Your Local Market campaign. Brickyard Bakery was a regular at our monthly food and craft markets before it went full time in Dundas Market.
We only allow businesses to take a unit in Dundas Market if we believe they will be successful and the idea has to be right for a value for money market. We employ a balance of trade policy to ensure traders are not directly competing with each other and we also support them with a campaign of social media, public relations and events, to encourage more shoppers and boost their profile.
2. Understand all your costs
Make sure you take account of all your business costs, including all premises costs, and do not be caught our by extra personal costs such as travelling expenses or childcare. Dundas Market offers a small number of Enterprise Units from £60 per week, which equates to just £10 a day, on short term tenant agreements. It’s a great way to fix your premises costs. Making enough money is vital to success – 29% of failed small businesses ran out of cash.
3. Get the right support
Running a retail business is a nine am to five pm, six or seven day a week commitment. You cannot do it all by yourself. You’ll need the support of family or friends, or you’ll need to take on staff to give you a break and time to visit suppliers. Having the right people in the business when you are not there is crucial. 23% of small business failures put their lack of success down to not having the right team.
There are plenty of free sources of advice to help you develop a new business. If you are under 30, the Prince’s Trust can help, and they also have good online tools, which anyone can use, to help with things like writing a business plan. Enterprise Made Simple provides fully funded pre-start business training for anyone based in the Tees Valley, as well as a number of other very useful courses and support services, including getting your business online and using social media to promote it.
The Fork in the Road eatery is celebrating its first 12 months in operation, during which the charity-funded Teesside restaurant employed 15 local people plus 12 prisoners, provided works experience to 30 long-term unemployed and put 30 more through a training course.
Unique in the North East, the Middlesbrough eatery opened on Christmas Eve last year, funded by Teesside-based parent charity CEO Sleepout with additional financial support from Public Health England.
It is run by experienced catering professionals who mentor trainees looking for a second chance in life, including ex-offenders, those in recovery from addiction and the long-term unemployed.
Based on the town’s Linthorpe Road in previously empty premises once famed as the home of popular toy shop Romer Parrish, The Fork in the Road has given employment of varying lengths to 12 men from local prison, HMP Kirklevington Grange.
One, a prisoner called Joe, works six days a week at the restaurant and has impressed enough to be appointed trainee manager whilst still serving the final year of his sentence.
The restaurant also launched The Fork in the Road Academy in conjunction with Stockton Riverside College, with 30 long-term unemployed local people taking a course covering food hygiene, first aid and other skills designed to help them find work.
Many of the students have enjoyed works experience at The Fork in the Road, including Jemma Hill. Having been long-term unemployed, Jemma was referred to the Fork’s training academy by her local Job Centre and has now been employed as a waitress at the restaurant for six months.
The restaurant currently employs 15 local people, 40% of whom were previously jobless, and it’s planned to increase this figure to 60% during the first few months of 2018.
CEO Sleepout chairman Andy Preston, who also managed the restaurant before handing over the reins to Matty Hynes, said: “We can definitely call The Fork in the Road’s first year a success.
“It’s been stressful and hard work but very satisfying too. We’re incredibly grateful for all the support we’ve received from the public, who have welcomed what is a unique concept that goes way beyond any other restaurant.
“The food started great and continues to improve, the place looks great and we’ve even extended it, with the recent launch of the 30-seat Marquee Room for private hire, which means we can now seat up to 100 diners.
“We’ve even made a tiny profit, which isn’t to be sneezed at for the first year of any restaurant.”
CEO Sleepout organises fundraising events across the country that have seen more than 1,500 business leaders sleep rough at venues such as Middlesbrough FC’s Riverside Stadium, Eaglescliffe’s Preston Park Museum, Wembley Stadium, The Oval, Emirates Old Trafford and St James’ Park.
Much of the funds have gone towards supporting the work of The Fork in the Road, which Andy says can now look forward to 2018 with confidence.
“I’m incredibly proud of all that we’ve achieved in our first 12 months in operation,” said the Middlesbrough-born businessman and charity leader.
“We’ve helped so many people who otherwise faced a real uphill struggle to get training and work opportunities.
“Naturally, making Joe our trainee manager while he’s still serving a sentence is a stand-out success, while another man, Dave, took time out on his first day of freedom for several years to thank us for helping to rebuild his life.
“Along with Stockton Riverside College, we’ve formed a unique partnership with HMP Kirklevington Grange, and we’re even now working with them to take produce from the prison gardens, so they should become a major supplier next year.
“Our waitress Jemma is also another fantastic example of how The Fork in the Road can help to transform people’s lives, as she has shone when given an opportunity through our academy.
“I’m really excited about the year ahead, so would ask people to please continue supporting our project and everything we’re trying to achieve. We really are a place of great food, ambiance and opportunity.”
A programme to encourage economic growth through creativity has been launched in the Tees Valley.
Creative Fuse Tees Valley works with businesses and freelance professionals in the creative, culture and heritage industries to find new ways which they can innovate and grow.
The programme is part of the wider Creative Fuse North East initiative, which is a unique partnership between the region’s five universities to explore how creative, digital and IT firms can have a sustainable future in the region.
Guests at the launch event at Teesside University learnt about the different areas of support for creative and cultural SMEs in the Tees Valley and shared best practice to encourage innovative ways of working.
Services offered through Creative Fuse Tees Valley, include one-to-one mentoring and consultancy, themed workshops, graduate placements and access to Teesside University’s creative facilities.
Wendy Parvin, Innovation Manager for Creative Fuse Tees Valley, said: “The creative and heritage sector is playing a vital role in the economic regeneration of the Tees Valley and it is essential that it is supported as much as possible.
“Through the Creative Fuse Tees Valley programme, we’re trying to unlock innovation through creativity and giving SMEs and freelancers the tools with which to do so.”
Creative Fuse North East is funded jointly by the five universities and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Arts Council England (ACE) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
It aims to ensure the CDIT sector in the region becomes more resilient, grows fast and creates more and better jobs in a sustainable digital economy.
For more information on Creative Fuse North East visit www.creativefusene.org.uk
Tees Valley businesses interested in taking part in the Creative Fuse Tees Valley programme can email w.parvin@tees.ac.uk
A Middlesbrough restaurant’s new trainee manager is combining serving food with serving time – as he is a prisoner at HMP Kirklevington Grange.
Joe – whose full name is not being made public – has won promotion at charity-run restaurant, The Fork in the Road, after wowing boss Andy Preston during spells as a kitchen porter, waiter and supervisor.
The 31-year-old, who is not due for release from Kirklevington Grange until August next year, works six days a week at the restaurant under the supervision of manager Matty Hynes and assistant manager Rachael Whitehead.
Backed by Middlesbrough-based national charity CEO Sleepout, The Fork in the Road is focused on giving work and training opportunities to the long-term unemployed including ex-offenders.
The restaurant’s founder Andy said: “We’re delighted to have made Joe our trainee manager.
“He is a really strong member of staff who came in as a dishwasher, then started to do some waiting and did such a good job that it just made sense to have him out front getting involved with our customers.
“He’s responsible and reliable, has bags of common sense, takes advice on board, and he’s always keen to do the right thing for the customers and the restaurant.
“Ultimately, he’s just keen to grasp the second chance we’ve given him.
“If he continues to work hard and display the attitude he’s done for the last six months then the world is his oyster when he completes his custodial sentence.”
Revealing the level of trust the restaurant has in their new trainee manager, Andy added: “Joe has supervised the restaurant on his own and has always done a great job.
“In fact, he occasionally locks up at night, takes the restaurant keys back to prison with him and returns to open up the next morning. We trust him.”
Joe said: “I am really chuffed to have been made trainee manager. The Fork in the Road is an amazing project that’s given me a fantastic opportunity.
“People sometimes ask me why I’m so happy to be at work. Well, when the alternative is to be locked up all day, it’s something to be happy about.
“My life is my work so I work hard and put everything I can into it. My motto is ‘Every day is a school day’.”
Joe hopes his role at The Fork in the Road can help him find employment on his release in eight months’ time.
“I channelled my energies into the wrong things in the past, got involved in something I shouldn’t have and ended up in jail,” he reflected. “Now I’m determined to turn a corner and do something productive with my life.
“I’m just grateful for the support I’ve received from Andy, the staff at Kirklevington Grange and everyone I’ve talked to while working at The Fork in the Road.
“The staff and customers at the restaurant have been good to me, there’s a great atmosphere and the food speaks for itself.
“I can definitely see myself working somewhere like this when I’ve finished my sentence, so hopefully this is a big step along the way.”
Andy added: “Joe’s story is the whole vision of The Fork in the Road in action. Creating opportunities and changing the lives of those who deserve a second chance is a perfect example of what our project exists to achieve.
“That’s not to say we’re soft on crime. To be brutally honest, I don’t believe everyone deserves another chance – but I believe there are many people who, given the right chance and support, can be real assets to their communities.
“Of course, for every Joe we’re going to have others who are much less successful. We’ve actually worked closely with Kirklevington Grange to give opportunities to seven or eight offenders over the past 12 months but Joe has been the stand-out success.”
Angie Petit, governor at HMP Kirklevington Grange, added: “The partnership working between Kirklevington Grange and The Fork in the Road is an amazing example of how we can work together to give people real chances for change and hope for the future.
“Employment for our men is an important part of that, but when we see aspirations realised in this way it really brings home the true meaning of our purpose.”
Middlesbrough’s thriving high tech digital economy is the breeding ground for the “Bolckow and Vaughan” of the 21st Century, according to Mayor Dave Budd.
Praise has been given to the growing multi-million pound Boho sector which provides employment for around 1,000 people as Mr Budd also declared the term “Over the Border” as a “thing of the past”.
And, just as Henry Bolckow and John Vaughan changed the world with iron and steel, Middlesbrough’s digital businesses are now doing the same in the creative and high-tech sectors.
The Boho Zone was put under the spotlight by BBC Tees in a three hour broadcast from Boho One – behind Middlesbrough Railway Station – with presenter Mike Parr.
Mr Budd joined digital business leaders in a panel discussion on the growth sector and why, when they could be in London or Silicon Valley, multi-million pound businesses are opening and staying in Middlesbrough.
Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd said: “There are now probably a thousand jobs in this area. It is a huge part of the future of Middlesbrough – there isn’t just one thing but this is hugely, hugely important.
“The term ‘Over the Border’ is a thing of the past, it’s a generational thing.
“I make no apology for repeating myself but we need to think of Middlesbrough centre not as a town but as the economic city heart of the Tees Valley city region.
“You could say that two of these people you are talking to this morning are the new Bolckow and Vaughan, things have moved on – that always gets a smile but why not?”
Bob Makin, CEO of games developers Sockmonkey Studios said: “There has been a lot of games development in Middlesbrough historically – NBA Jam was made here which is one of the biggest games of all time.
“The think about Middlesbrough is we have the countryside, all the local aspects, but we have good internet speeds so we have been working with people in San Francisco online and it doesn’t make a difference now where you work – you can work with people all over the world.”
Animmersion Managing Director Dominic Lusardi added: “It’s fantastic, 10 years ago we started out on a dream of seeing a digital cluster develop and we can see the fruits of these labours. We have a full building with lots of different digital businesses here and we are so proud to be here and be involved in the growth of this digital cluster.”
A local firm which produces ethnic snacks for the UK’s biggest supermarkets has been named Food Manufacturer of the Year.
SK Chilled Foods also scooped the title of Chilled Manufacturing of the Year in the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards, which were held in London this week.
The two awards, regarded as the Oscars of the food manufacturing world, recognised the technical innovation that resulted in the company making record sales of £60 million last year.
From its head offices in Wynyard and two factories Middlesbrough, SK Chilled Foods makes ethnic snacks, accompaniments for meals, and own-label party food for the UK’s biggest supermarkets, as well as restaurant chains and food service companies.
The awards’ independent judging panel – lead by Paul Wilkinson, chair of the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink – praised the firm’s relentless attention to detail in carving out its place in the highly competitive UK snacks market estimated to be worth £119M a year.
He said: “Every year, the judges’ challenge to pick out just one winner becomes a little more difficult.”
“But this year SK Chilled Foods emerged as the judges’ top choice, thanks to its deep commitment to new product development, process innovation and customer service.”
SK Chilled Foods’ Managing Director Jeremy Faulkner said: “We operate in a very competitive marketplace and there are lots of excellent food manufacturers in the UK, so to be named the best is an amazing honour.
“We pride ourselves on our new product development, technical integrity, service and the constant drive for innovation.
“It would have been impossible to win these awards without the hard work and commitment of the 675 staff who work for SK Chilled Foods.
“From the development chefs and head office team, to the people in the factories, everyone has played their part in our success and I would like to thank them for their amazing effort.”
The annual FMEAs, organised by William Reed’s Food Manufacture Group,are now in their 17th year and have become the premier showcase for British food and drink manufacturing excellence.
This year’s FMEAs included seven manufacturing awards: Ambient Manufacturing Company of the Year, Bakery Manufacturing Company of the Year, Beverages Manufacturing Company of the Year, Chilled Food Manufacturing Company of the Year, Dairy Manufacturing Company of the Year, Fresh Produce Manufacturing Company of the Year and Meat and Poultry & Seafood Manufacturing Company of the Year.
FMEA Oscars were also awarded for: Best New Use of Food Ingredients, Environmental Initiative of the Year, Supply Chain Initiative of the Year, Training Programme of the Year, SME Innovation of the Year and Judges’ Star Performer.
The final two awards were for: Young Talent of the Year and the Me and My Factory: Editor’s Choice Award.
Businesses from across the North East enjoyed breakfast with a side of industry expertise this week, thanks to a new event hosted by Northern Skills Group.
Attendees of “Skills for Breakfast” at Middlesbrough College’s STEM Centre were treated to a digital masterclass from James Lees, head of Marketing at advertising specialist Mabo Media, and also advice on funding available for training.
Wendy Starks, skills development officer at Tees Valley Combined Authority, talked to businesses about how to access the likes of the Tees Valley Apprenticeship Support for Employers fund – available to those employing an apprentice between the ages of 19-24.
Northern Skills Group’s own expert team also provided information on how to take advantage of changes under the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy.
The event is the first of many that will see speakers from different backgrounds give expert insights to local businesses.
James Lees, head of marketing at Mabo Media, said: “The event was a fantastic opportunity for businesses to get valuable online marketing insights.
“Usually it’s just clients of Mabo Media who get a chance to hear our ideas and expertise on pay-per-click advertising so this was a rare chance for businesses to pick up some knowledge they can put into practice.”
Peter Wilson, Northern Skills Group director, added: “The first Skills for Breakfast event was a real success.
“The session was a great opportunity for businesspeople to learn more about a discipline that is critical to future success, as well as some of the commercial benefits of taking on apprentices.
“Northern Skills Group’s approach to training is about being a centre of resource for our regional business community and meeting its needs. Events like this are an important part of that strategy.
“We urge businesspeople in the North East to keep an eye on the Northern Skills Group social media channels for the next event.”
Those interested in attending the next event should email marketing@northernskills.co.uk.
Entrepreneurial students can set up in business as a core part of their degree through an innovative new course to be offered at Teesside University.
Based on a model pioneered in Finland, it involves a style of teaching which sees students direct their own learning as they work towards becoming business leaders.
The BA (Hons) Team Entrepreneurship is based largely on learning by doing, with guidance and support offered from experienced business coaches and a range of other experts.
The students shape and direct their own learning through participation in team sessions rather than lectures. This involves practical business projects in which the students trade as real businesses to develop their own skills and knowledge.
Run by just a handful of universities worldwide, it is described as a radical approach to business education, with academics and business people involved believing that learning from experience is the best way to teach business skills.
The three-year full-time degree, which is due to launch at the start of the next academic year, will help students to build their knowledge of business, while developing the skills vital to becoming successful and effective.
Teesside University is one of just a few institutions in the UK to offer the degree, which covers management and leadership, market research, finance, business law, strategy and setting up and running a business.
Susan Laing, Dean of Teesside University Business School, said: “This style of learning is in response to the needs of the next generation, to ensure entrepreneurial students are equipped with the essential mind set, attitude and business skills to increase their employability and ensure they can make a real contribution to the economy.”
