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James MillsJames Mills is a web developer in the North East of England and founder of Refresh Teesside »

Mike HughesMike Hughes is the Head of Business for the Evening Gazette. He will be blogging on all matters of importance to Teesside businesses - and some that are just worth knowing »

Jez DavisonJez Davison, business writer at the Evening Gazette, is a regular blogger on all things business - particularly finance, entrepreneurship and the state of the Teesside economy »

Karen McLauchlanKaren McLauchlan is the Evening Gazette's deputy business and features editor - with special interest in all things industry, property and arts related »

Jeremy MiddletonJeremy Middleton is a venture capitalist and the co-founder of FTSE-200 company HomeServe »

DeloitteDeloitte, which has 23 offices across the UK including Newcastle, is among the country's leading professional services firms »

ClimateNEClimateNE & Climate Change Schools Project support the move to a low-carbon, resilient economy and help businesses avoid risk and realise commercial opportunities. Posts by Jen Atkinson, Krista McKinzey and Harriet Thew »

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September 2008 Archives


The Power of Positive Thought....

Posted by on September 1, 2008 9:07 AM

...is not enough to restart my Internet connection. I write this between a series of power cuts that I've been blighted with most of the weekend. This is nothing too unusual for Swaziland as the break in electricity is as common here as it is in Rwanda, but still, slightly annoying when you want to make connections with the outside world. I'm typing this furiously before the next cut inevitably strikes before I get it live....Think I'll just about make it.... Will be in touch again soon when the blackouts become less regular!

Exchanging your Life for a Day

Posted by on September 2, 2008 4:18 PM

As I drive for two hours high up into the mountains to visit a remote producer group called Tinsaba, I already know that it's going to be a great day.

Through the early morning mist, children sing and wave on their way to collect water and cows clearly rule the road! I am forced to stop on several occasions to avoid them.

I turn off onto a dirt track to find the group (praying that this is the right dirt track. There are many and no sign posts.) I drive for about 30 minutes deep into the bush only to discover that it clearly isn't. With thick bush-land at either side of me, I can't turn so all I can do is reverse!

Not a 4x4 by any means, my affectionately named 'Harris' the Yaris, revved up but got stuck down a pot hole.

Continue reading "Exchanging your Life for a Day" »

The Frog Chorus

Posted by on September 2, 2008 4:50 PM

After a long day, I was ready for a nice hot shower and an early night!

But I arrived at my B&B to discover that - yet again - there was no electricity.

Hunting for my torch (essential for anyone travelling to Swaziland) I also located the candles and jumped in the shower - at least there was water!

I then attempted to read for a bit by candlelight and was about to go to sleep when I heard the nightly choir outside my window.

Now I have to say that birds and bugs singing is one of the nicest sounds in the world when you step off a plane, but at night when all you want to do is sleep, the novelty soon wears off!

I have managed to get used to the grasshoppers, cockroaches and other vocal insects that seem to enjoy serenading me, but the frogs? Arhhhhh the frogs I cannot drown out.

They are the loudest of the group, the lead singers and they never seem to stop for breath! They are spurred on by their backup band (grasshoppers et al) and always seem to reach a crescendo just as I am about to nod off!

Just as this thought was crossing my mind I heard a thud coming from my bathroom.

Continue reading "The Frog Chorus" »

Party At The Palace

Posted by on September 3, 2008 10:06 AM

Do you know what the Swazi's definitely know how to do well?

Party!

They have a whole range of festivals throughout the year. One of the most sacred is the Incwala. This is the first fruits ceremony, where the king gives permission for his people to eat the new crops of that year.

But I was here for the almighty Reed Festival.

Earlier this week I saw hundreds of girls on their way to the Queens Mother's house for the beginning of the week-long dance off. And now I find myself at the centre of it all....

Continue reading "Party At The Palace" »

Back to Basics

Posted by on September 3, 2008 10:44 AM

Gone Rural is one of the key businesses that Shared Interest Foundation will work with on a three year project (dependent on funding.)

After speaking to the ladies who run this organisation and many who are supported by Gone Rural, I feel that I have a duty to lay the facts out for all to see the harsh reality of life in Swaziland.

Gone Rural was established in 1992 by Jenny Thorne with a workshop staff of six people working with 30 women.

Set up as a rural development company, it has grown rapidly and now they have 24 workshop staff, working with 772 rural women operating from home.

These are not women who stand by and wait for handouts. They are strong and brave and have been empowered by a truly amazing organisation.

This, however, is not enough to hide the facts:

Continue reading "Back to Basics" »

Driven Round The Benz

Posted by on September 3, 2008 12:06 PM

I have just arrived in Phalaborwa, in the Kruger region of South Africa. Despite the bush fires, I arrived here in one piece!

Next is a six hour car journey through the bush in the intense heat to visit some of the producer groups.

The car hire company gave me a Mercedes Benz. Hmmmm, I took one look at it and asked politely if they had anything smaller. Don't know why(!) but something tells me a Benz is not the right type of car for the bush...

Anyway, apparently I'm going to come across a whole range of random animals en route today so I'm focusing on that - should be quite an interesting journey!

As soon as I arrive I have to get ready for the fair trade awareness training tomorrow.

This has to be a quick note as time is ticking and I have to set off. I'll write again soon - depending on Internet connection. You may have noticed the toll the power cuts take on the timeliness of my blogs but I guess it all adds to the flavour!

Mark Lisgo

North East to Middle East

Posted by Mark Lisgo on September 4, 2008 12:25 PM

Around four months ago I packed my bags and headed to Newcastle Airport. After living in Wallsend since being born I was moving out to a new life in the sunshine of Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.

Over the coming few months I will be taking a look at life and business in this part of the world, as well as looking at the similarities between the North East and the Middle East. Based on my brief experience so far, there are quite a few...

Continue reading "North East to Middle East" »

MPC to start cutting rates soon

Posted by on September 4, 2008 1:43 PM

Roger Bootle, Economic Adviser to Deloitte, responds to September's MPC meeting

Lingering inflation concerns kept the Monetary Policy Committee's finger off the interest rate trigger again today. But it is only a matter of time before it is forced to respond to the rapidly deteriorating outlook for the economy by cutting rates very aggressively.

It is not hard to see why the MPC decided to stand pat for the fourth consecutive month at today's meeting. At 4.4% in July, inflation is more than double the Committee's 2% target and likely to head towards 5% as recently announced gas and electricity hikes hit the index.

That means that the Governor, Mervyn King, will have to write a series of further letters (one every three months) to the Chancellor explaining why inflation is so high. Against that background, the Committee may have feared that a rate cut today would have given the impression that it is targeting growth, not inflation.

But worries about the inflation outlook are likely to ease significantly over the coming months. After all, the recent fall in the oil price - if sustained - means that the upward influence of energy prices should soon start to fade rapidly.

Continue reading "MPC to start cutting rates soon" »

Adam Lopardo

Behind the scenes at Baltic

Posted by Adam Lopardo on September 5, 2008 1:14 PM

For my first blog entry I thought I'd talk about Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead. There are two reasons why Baltic came to mind. Firstly because they have been in the news recently and secondly because yesterday I attended their second business breakfast and hugely enjoyed it.

Continue reading "Behind the scenes at Baltic" »

Ian Brown

Rain rain go away.....

Posted by Ian Brown on September 7, 2008 10:51 AM

"Rain rain go away and come back another day", as a child my Grandmother did the weekly wash on a Monday and as such required a dry day to hang the washing out....40 years on and with 4 young children in my house the washing machine is in a constant spin....as is the electric dryer on days like today.

Yesterday our house and that of my aunty next door came within a few centremtres of flooding in a matter of hours but luckily our houses were safe.....unlike many local families, including my retired village school headmistress a mile away.

What can we do to avoid these things happening and how do we keep safe...?

Continue reading "Rain rain go away....." »

Ian Brown

Tribute to a brace of Brewis's who knew a flood or two

Posted by Ian Brown on September 7, 2008 11:49 AM

Henry and William....I salute you. I've done two blogs today because the flood was......well frankly unexpected and yet let's look at the work of diarist William Brewis of Mitford from the Summer 1843 - that must be...about ..165years ago - 'Rain. Tremendous weather, most like Noah's Flood. Never fair.

'Such a disagreeable season never was seen in this part of the country by the oldest person, I cannot recollect since we had a fair day. It is doubtful about the growing crops of corn and grass, the servants are just laying about the place doing nothing, we neither can get on the land or hedges or can even stand out to do nothing. How the turnips will be got in it remains a mystery ...

We need good diarists and the bloggers of today need to see themselves as a reinvention of the something good - the wheel of life keeps turning!...now more about why Henry got me here!

Continue reading "Tribute to a brace of Brewis's who knew a flood or two" »

Memories of Swaziland: Rising from the Ashes

Posted by on September 8, 2008 10:36 AM

Yes, the Internet connection has yet again thrown my blogs into disarray!

If I could take you back to last Thursday, as I set off on my six hour journey into the South African bush....

My mind wandered back to the drama of my Swaziland send-off. I think I had blocked it out until now.

Because quite the send-off it was. I literally left in a flurry of flames!

Continue reading "Memories of Swaziland: Rising from the Ashes" »

Park Life

Posted by on September 8, 2008 11:14 AM

So here I was last Thursday, arriving to find the car hire company had a Mercedes Benz for my foray into the Phalaborwa bush, deep in the Mpumulanga region of South Africa.

As with Swaziland, Mpumulanga has been hard hit by bush fires; people have lost their homes, crops and livestock and it is all they are talking about.

Together with a South African organisation called Legends, Shared Interest Foundation is working with the Kruger National Park to support existing businesses within it.

The people that work here are historically disadvantaged, so the support and training to nurture their businesses is an enormous help in providing a sustainable income to hundreds of people.

As I drove to meet with Portia, the Park's socio-economic advisor, I am stopped in my tracks by a whole range of animals. There is literally a zebra crossing as they trot over the road in front of me, and I see elephants, giraffes and gazelle drinking from a large watering hole.

Continue reading "Park Life" »

Ray of Light

Posted by on September 8, 2008 11:43 AM

Ok, back to the future. Er, I mean the present!

I am now in Cape Town after another mammoth journey (four hours on planes, seven hours in Johannesburg airport, and a two hour drive.)

After a much-needed relaxing weekend, I am now ready to train over 100 people on fair trade awareness during the week ahead.

My first session starts today with UMTHA, meaning ray of light, which is what this organisation means to its community.

UMTHA operates under the black empowerment movement. It is a jewellery-making business employing 40 people.

Manager, Cheryl explains: "It's more than just production it's about teamwork and providing sustainable incomes, while creating jewellery of world-class quality."

UMTHA's vision is to release the potential in the hearts and minds of South Africans, helping them to overcome poverty and deprivation.

After the training I will be able to share more with you...but for now I should go and prepare.

Off to a Flying Start

Posted by on September 8, 2008 11:56 AM

Arhhhhhh! I've just checked my email.

People are actually FLYING from miles away to attend tomorrow's training course.

My email from Fetola Mmoho tells me: 'There has been an overwhelming response to the invite and I'm still getting e-mails from people who would like to attend. We'll have people flying in just to attend the workshop. My head is still spinning from all the enquiries. I'm positive it will be a great success.'

Gulp! No pressure there then! Suddenly today's group of 30 seems like a walk in the park.

Katie Pringle

The out of office assistant

Posted by Katie Pringle on September 8, 2008 8:16 PM

There is a universally acknowledged truth that when a thing should be easy, it generally isn't.

Why is it something as a simple as turning on an out of office assistant on your email system turns into a goliath IT project complete with monosyllabic IT helpdesk staff (my brother - cheap doesn't always equal cheerful).

Now I know you're probably thinking well if you've got old reliable MS Outlook then nee worries, but ah, we can't afford any of that fancy Microsoft systems in these harsh economic climes, so we have a free to use email system that links in with our website.

What a carry on, total waste of time as well, within ten minutes of having the out of office set up our inbox had 300 new emails and we were in such a tizzy that we took the whole thing off. Crazy.

That's what you get when you try and be organised and take control of your business. a slap in the face and a small mountain's worth of error messages.

As it turns out there wasn't that many emails - the current economic climate has finally hit our little business and I think it'll take more than a fully functioning email system to revive our current fortunes. Go figure.

Let the Training Commence!

Posted by on September 9, 2008 11:08 AM

I've been awake since 5.30am. A big day always means an early start.

And believe me, this is quite a big day!

As I write this, we have people touching down in planes from Namibia and Botswana and by the time this week comes to a close, 100 people will have learnt something new about fair trade awareness.

I'm especially looking forward to meeting businesses such as Thandi after seeing their products decorating the shelves of my local Co-op back home.

One of South Africa's biggest exporters of wine, theirs was the first in the world to achieve Fairtrade status so they should have an interesting story to tell.

Continue reading "Let the Training Commence!" »

Chocolate Tuesday

Posted by on September 10, 2008 10:49 AM

What a day it turned out to be yesterday, with chocolate playing a major part.

There were 25 businesses from a broad range of backgrounds, including a chocolate company to South Africa's largest exporter of fair trade fruit, as well as several handicraft groups.

I started out with a popular game based around (yes you guessed it!) chocolate, which shows how funds are unfairly distributed in general trade - with the crafts person or farmer at the bottom of the supply chain, barely making enough to survive.

We then discussed how fair trade works to correct this system and raise incomes.

Despite being from different backgrounds, everyone in the room had one huge thing in common, and it wasn't chocolate this time! It was a commitment to improving the lives of their workers.

One group in particular with huge passion and enthusiasm for fair trade and the principles behind it was the Soulicious Chocolate Company.

In their own words, they create their product 'out of compassionate minds and soulful hearts'.

One of their major aims is for Africa to get more international recognition for this raw material. That is why they use superior cocoa from the heart of the country as their main ingredient.

Fairtrade certification will offer Soulicious better trading conditions, securing the livelihoods of marginalized farmers and workers in the developing world.

If the company gains Fairtrade status, they will use the premium involved, along with any profits they make, to set up nutritional cooking classes for children and their parents.

With more than 130 retail products in the United Kingdom now carrying the Fairtrade mark, I am keen to help empower more businesses like Soulicious to reach this goal.

To see that there is as much passion for fair trade in South Africa as there is in the UK is inspiring. And after the nervous anticipation before yesterday's session, all I feel now is excitement to do it again and again- with a little more chocolate thrown in for good measure!

Jonathan Wheatley

Turning work in progress into an online business

Posted by Jonathan Wheatley on September 10, 2008 10:42 AM

I have never been a fan of bespoke software or of having a single employee who has developed your systems and they become indispensible by default and remind you of it at every opportunity!

Bespoke or custom written systems seem to be forever work in progress and development can carry on for years until you generally decide that an out of the box solution can do it. Out of the box solutions will often be able to provide 90% of what you need and with some tweaking you can get close to the rest. CRM is a great example of this. We are fans of Act by Sage and although seen as sales tools, MC Ware in Stokesley, North Yorkshire have implemented this product into all kinds of applications from manufacturing to domestic violence centres.
So it may surprise you to know that I am one of the partners behind www.stayinthegoodbooks.com a custom written, bespoke online greetings card site that allows you to send real cards to people in the post via the internet. The site is launched and doing well but it has been 12 months in the making and I have to report that the reason that these projects take so long is because of people like me changing my mind - there I have said it. It is impossible once you see what a system can do not to ask for a little bit more. The developers will say "here is the card reminders program you asked for, it even selects a birthday or anniversary card for you at random just as you asked for" to which I reply "that's great but is it also possible to actually suggest a message inside the card". Other requests that were not in the original spec included, uploading of your photo's to the front of the card, upload hand written messages and signatures, I'm sure you get the idea.
So in future I shall be more patient with the developers and the guy in logistics who has written a program that links into the postal system.

I will sign off now as whilst writing this I have an idea about integrating stayinthegoodbooks.com with Facebook, I wonder if they have taken the lock off the door!

Finding the Unity in Community

Posted by on September 12, 2008 10:47 AM

As is usually the case, what I expected to be the most daunting part of my trip has turned out to be the best bit. I must remember this next time something challenging comes my way!

Ok, so I've now trained 100 people from three different countries: Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.

No matter how many times I say it, it still doesn't feel quite real.

But the difference made by greater fair trade awareness is very real indeed. In fact, at times it is overwhelming.

Over and over again in the past week I have discovered firsthand the impact fair trade makes - not just on individual lives but entire communities.

With the extra money made from the Fairtrade Premium, communities have done some amazing stuff.

Making every decision as a group, they debate what is top priority for the workers. This ranges from creches to training facilities.

We could learn a lot from this community approach. Perhaps it is no mistake that 'unity' makes up the latter part of the word?

Robin, one of the guys that I trained this week told me:

"The difference Fairtrade makes to businesses, family and friends is second to none.

"What I like is that the community is empowered to make a decision that will help everyone. We now have a new creche for our children to play in and stay safe while we are working.

"As many of us have up to six children, this has made a massive difference to our lives.

"I am so happy that you are here today to tell more people about Fairtrade as i want everyone to benefit just like I have."

So here I am yer again, reflecting on an amazing trip; something that will hopefully help lift thousands of farmers, handicraft makers and their families out of poverty.

This is why I have to cram in as much as I can before my journey home. Time is of the essence.

Before I get to the airport, several craft businesses want to find out more about Shared Interest, and there's that NGO looking to create a long term project with us in the region... and there's also one more producer to call.....

Oh and my packing of course

Next time you hear from me, I may be back on British soil. Just a 22 hour flight in between!

Lehman collapses one year on from run on Rock

Posted by on September 15, 2008 8:51 AM

The news overnight that Lehman Brothers, the top US investment bank, is filing for bankruptcy will send shockwaves not just throughout Wall Street but across global financial markets.
It is truly a seismic development in banking history; the most significant development to date in this most exceptional financial crisis.

Continue reading "Lehman collapses one year on from run on Rock" »

Mark Lisgo

That Sunday Morning Feeling

Posted by Mark Lisgo on September 18, 2008 9:14 AM

It is surprising how few people back in England realise that the Arabic world operates to a different working week than the Western world. While you are tucking into your Sunday dinner, here in Abu Dhabi we are just coming to the end of our first working day of the week.

The holy day for Islam falls on Friday. Until fairly recently, the working week in most Islamic countries was Saturday to Wednesday. This is still the case in Saudi Arabia, for example. It was only a couple of years ago that the United Arab Emirates moved to a working week of Sunday to Thursday in order to maximise trading and business opportunities with the rest of the world.

Continue reading "That Sunday Morning Feeling" »

Workers will pay price of HBOS salvation

Posted by on September 18, 2008 9:56 AM

With the Lloyds TSB takeover of HBOS confirmed, the focus now inevitably shifts to the implications of this mega deal.
What is immediately apparent, and has been confirmed this morning, is that the implications for the vast workforce of these two institutions combined stand to be significant.

Continue reading "Workers will pay price of HBOS salvation" »

Adam Lopardo

Share prices fall, art prices rise

Posted by Adam Lopardo on September 19, 2008 9:37 AM

This week I have been watching two news stories unfold. The obvious one is the turnmoil hitting the worlds financial markets as some very rich people have dug their own graves as other rich people pick over the carcassses whilst other more ruthless rich people smell blood and make money from the debacle. Come the revolution...sorry that's another blog.

Ian Brown

One Potato, two potato three potato four

Posted by Ian Brown on September 21, 2008 9:04 AM

You might think all potatos are much the same and indeed that one potato farm is much like another....think again and check out Tiptoe Farm.
I was delighted to be present as Tiptoe joined Blagdon, North Bellshill and Lee Moor Farm as a demonstration farms for the organisation LEAF. So with the background of floods, an economic downturn and yo-yo commodity prices what is in the shop window of farming?

Continue reading "One Potato, two potato three potato four" »

A Party Fit for a King

Posted by on September 23, 2008 12:14 PM

A celebration took place in one of the world's last remaining kingdoms last week.

And what a celebration it was!

After all, we're talking about King Mwasti III's 40th birthday as well as the 40th year of independence for Swaziland.

Of course, it may feel slightly bizarre to be talking in terms of independence when a lot of people living in Swaziland don't even have the freedom to earn a fair living.

While King Mswati spent £4 million to celebrate his milestone - with President Mugabe as one of his VIP guests - hundreds of thousands of Swazi's will endure another year of extreme poverty.

Being driven in one of the 20 brand spanking new BMW's bought especially for the occasion, King Mswati arrived with his 13 wives who had just returned from a shopping trip in Dubai.

The country is divided in their thoughts towards this event. Some do place their trust in the King, believing that he has their best interests at heart. However, it is the majority who agree that the money spent on shopping trips, cars, marching bands and garden parties could have been better spent on addressing the country's ever increasing HIV/AIDS.

After all, around 40% of Swaziland's population have the disease, while only one in four people live to see their 40th birthday.

Quite ironic then that the King's celebration was named the 40/40 event.

Swazi Trade Union leader Jan Stilole stated: "People feel strongly because this is a plundering of the country's resources in the height of grinding poverty for most the Swazi masses. They feel that their money is being wasted with arrogance."

And the sad truth is that as the king, his wives and friends all tuck into a lavish banquet, the majority of the country doesn't even know where their next meal is coming from.

Vote for Women

Posted by on September 25, 2008 1:29 PM

Well after a long four-month process, the final results of Swaziland's elections were announced and it seems the Vote for Women campaign has had little success.

You may remember Tholiwe Tsela from my previous blogs. (Revisit 'Shining a Light on Swaziland Struggles to refresh your memory.) Tholiwe was only one of 19 women out of 175 chiefdoms to make it through to the secondary level of elections.

Still, she has been unsuccessful in her dream (and fight) to make it as a female MP.

Unfortunately she may see this as the end of the road in her crusade to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and encouragement of female empowerment across the kingdom.

You see, there has been a significant need for gender empowerment in Swaziland for many years, and still little progress has been made.

For instance, Swaziland is currently the only Southern African country that has not endorsed the Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Lomcebo Dlamini from the WLSA (Women and Law in South Africa) group states: "We currently have five women MPs out of 65 overall. It has been reported that many women standing for election have been threatened and intimidated.

"We are still awaiting the results of one of the constituencies to be released this coming weekend, which could bring us up to seven."

This is still a long way off the minimum 30%.

Of course, the election system simply scratches the surface of the inequalities between men and women.

Women are at a significant disadvantage in daily living overall.

The female illiteracy rate is high because of the traditional belief that women belong in the home.

And despite the government taking measures to meet the 30% female representation in parliament, women's participation is sometimes viewed as a token gesture rather than a sign of their credibility.

The truth is, women have very little power or status in Swazi society. How can they when they are unable to own their own house or access credit?

Even more unimaginable is that they are still subject to traditional customary practises such as widow inheritance (where if a woman's husband dies, she is 'inherited' by his brother or another male family member.)

Even if we take gender equality out of the equation, it is still very hard, if nigh on impossible, to state that these were free and fair elections.

For a start, political parties were not permitted to contest the current state of affairs.

This restriction - as stated by the Pan African Parliament - places infringements on the rights of those people wanting to take part in elections and is nowhere near any type of democracy.

It is paramount that Swazi Law and customs should be subject to standards as in any lawful society.

Some would say this should include abolishing customary practices that undermine the dignity of women, which many believe may be found in the darker, more serious side to the Annual Reed Dance.

Diane Mariechild said: "A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform."

This should be recognised throughout the world, because surely all women should have the right to live in dignity, in freedom from want and freedom from fear.

Ian Brown

Who shrank my industry?

Posted by Ian Brown on September 27, 2008 2:24 PM

As I prepare for my church's harvest festival tomorrow I am in reflective mood about the State of Agriculture in England. It has been a harvest locally that promised much and delivered less.....extremely cruel to those of my many friends in farming who were looking to move on following a number of poor years.

Let's look at the data for England and the north east. The trend is clear and I have to say depressing but agriculture has a habit of not cycling with the rest of the economy!

Continue reading "Who shrank my industry?" »

B&B demise a sad loss

Posted by on September 29, 2008 10:39 AM

There will be plenty of sympathy in the North East for the plight of Bradford & Bingley employees who are turning up for work this morning completely in the dark about what the future holds for them.

Continue reading "B&B demise a sad loss" »