Welcome to the Jungle

Posted by Katie Pringle on September 4, 2007 10:32 AM

In a couple of weeks time our business will be attending a trade fair in London called Design Edge. It's a fair 'for British designer makers' of which we are one and it's on over three days in mid September.

We attended our first trade fair in March and it was a really good location for us to showcase our products as we finally seemed to be hitting our target audience. Buyers come from all different kinds of outlets, they can be from museums, galleries, independent retailers and even garden centres.

So we're in full prep mode trying to get everything organised for our trip, we're organising accomodation, getting sample products together and trying to decide whether or not we can afford to put the prices up on a few of our products.

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A Plea For Creativity

Posted by Julian christopher on September 4, 2007 11:49 AM

Those that have had the pleasure/misfortune (delete as applicable) to know me over the years would testify that I’m a fairly mild-mannered chap, but there are a few seemingly-minor things that are liable to turn my eyes a Voldemort shade of furious red.

Numbered amongst these are the collected works of Gilbert & Sullivan, the fact that the media seems to enjoy turning a procession of talentless nonentities into feted celebrities and the numerous times that the England cricket selectors patently pick the wrong team just to annoy me.

But the thing that makes me want to really spit blood is the use of the word ‘delighted’ in news stories written by my industry peers.

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IT Can Drive NE Business

Posted by Judith on September 5, 2007 3:17 PM

For today’s blog entry I’d like to introduce Anna Ferguson who will speak as a fairly recent addition to the Waterstons' consulting team, having previously worked in London in both IT and Management Consulting roles:

Here at Waterstons one of our key focuses is to tailor IT to help realise business’s strategic objectives, and this concept initially attracted me to the company.

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Power to the people

Posted by Ross Smith on September 6, 2007 8:28 AM

A delegation from the North East is today making a crucial presentation on the region's bid to house the Energy Technologies Institute - a new Government research centre being set up for renewable energy development.

The North East Chamber of Commerce has thrown its backing behind the bid. Sustainable energy will undoubtedly be a huge business opportunity for years to come, so having such a pretigious centre in the region can only be good news for the region's economy.

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Like a well oiled machine

Posted by Katie Pringle on September 10, 2007 11:34 AM

Got in. Got on the phone. Rang stationers to order more card. Stationers mocked me but ordered card. Logged on to the computer. Checked emails. Received 60 messages.

Deleted 40 containing porn. Read remaining messages and replied where necessary. Received call from stationers to say that some card not available the rest to be picked up tommorow. Searched youtube for current favourite song. Received call from another card supplier to confirm my order. Confirmed order.

Began internet search for inkjet printer cartridges for A1 printer. Received call from card supplier to pay for ordered goods and to confirm delivery time. Continued search for inkjet printer cartridges.

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The Tyne of our lives

Posted by Ross Smith on September 10, 2007 2:27 PM

The radical transformation in Newcastle in the last two decades has laid the foundations for a bright economic future, according to my colleague Simon Hanson who has analysed the Tyneside renaissance for a new report on the state of the UK's major cities.

But he points out that Newcastle will not achieve its full potential unless certain factors that could constrain its growth are dealt with.

Transport is a critical issue - and Simon highlights the need to bring the Tyne and Wear Metro up to 21st century standards to keep the city moving.

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Business Support and Skills Brokerage

Posted by Alastair MacColl on September 13, 2007 12:15 PM

The North East of England is a region with many assets. I’m sure most of us would say, its people and their skills are its greatest asset. That’s probably why an increasing number of businesses in the North East are treating skills and the development of their people as the biggest single priority.

Business Link North East provides the brokerage service for ‘Train to Gain’ in our region. The ‘Train to Gain’ service, which is supported by the Learning & Skills Council, provides impartial support for businesses as they try to identify their skills needs and how to fulfil them. That includes, helping to fund some of those solutions. Business Link now brings together business support and skills brokerage through one single regional service. Meaning businesses can now go through one door and get advice on all aspects of skills and business support.

Our brokers are all professionally qualified to a national standard. They will work with businesses to identify the skills your business needs; pinpoint the right training; agree a tailored package; find available funding and review the progress you are making.

This support can cover everything from programmes designed to improve productivity, through to management development. Our brokers will also provide advice on which qualifications are appropriate; the best methods of training; prioritise activity and access the right kind of providers.

So, if you need help and support in any of those areas, just call Business Link North East on 0845 600 9 006 and one of our brokers will be in touch to talk about how we can help you.

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The tortoise and the hare

Posted by Judith on September 14, 2007 2:45 PM

For this blog entry I'd like to introduce one of Waterstons' executive consultants, Alistair McLeod...

I love technology and working in an IT Consultancy company I see the benefits it brings to our clients every day. It can be an extremely powerful way of accelerating processes, consolidating information, or providing useful information quickly; however it is always important to ensure that technology is fit for purpose. This means you use the right technology in the right place to improve the way something is done. I’ll give you an example:-

I have a PDA device that allows me to pick up emails on the move, check my calendar, and generally act as an electronic organiser. It is fantastic, and as an added bonus it doubles up as a phone and a camera (ok, so the camera is not fantastic, but it has comes in handy on several occasions).

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A corporate flaw

Posted by Andrew Mernin on September 17, 2007 9:09 AM

A lot can happen in business in ten minutes. Deals can be struck up, emergency loans can be given or an entire workforce can be laid off. One story I covered recently told how a business was saved from extinction in just ten minutes - no mean feat I'm sure you'll agree.

The North-East firm was rescued from disappearing from the face of the earth by a consortium who placed it into administration for ten minutes as part of a pre-packaged deal.

Within minutes, the firm's debts were cleared and the jobs of its workforce were secured.

But what several readers were keen to remind me was that, while the story was clearly good news for staff and management at the firm, it was indicative of a severe flaw to the British corporate set-up.

Several people contacted me to tell me the fact that contractors or clients can see money they are owed disappear into thin air within minutes is huge problem with the system which needs to be addressed.

So what do you think needs to be done to address this issue and is there enough support available for those businesses which lose out when others are saved?

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Facing Up To The Future

Posted by Julian christopher on September 18, 2007 12:23 PM

As all good PR people know, there’s nothing like combining a bit of righteous indignation, some dramatic survey research and a few sweeping generalisations to make a ‘news’ story – and this week’s spot prize for media alchemy goes to law firm Peninsula, which has the online social networking phenomenon firmly in its sights.

According to Peninsula’s latest piece of research, a minimum of 233 million hours are lost every month as a result of employees “wasting time” on social networking – and its director of employment law is calling on all firms to block access to sites such as Facebook (though I’m presuming that even he would allow people who actually work for Facebook to take a peek now and again…).

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Here's the good news...

Posted by Ross Smith on September 21, 2007 10:37 AM

The recent events surrounding Northern Rock, coupled with the news the £500m Energy Technologies Institute won’t be coming to the North East, you might expect am air of ‘doom and gloom’ to hang over the region’s economy.

So here’s the reasons why we should not lose the optimism and ambition that have characterised the region in recent years:

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Is cyberslacking damaging your business?

Posted by Norma Foster on September 24, 2007 3:38 PM

Where would we be without the internet? It has changed the way we do business, buy houses, find friends, find jobs, book holidays, have a laugh...

In fact, the internet touches nearly everything we do. And it’s fabulous! Imagine life without the likes of Google, BBC Online and YouTube.

But we need to know where to draw the line.

The news last week that three workers at Neath Port Talbot Council lost their jobs because of excessive use of the internet while at work isn’t the first.

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