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Make yourself a real target for investment

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

WORKSHOPS are on the way to help firms make themselves more attractive to industry.

The Access to Finance workshops, which are being held at NETPark (the North East Technology Park), in Sedgefield, are aimed at new and early stage companies which want to improve their business prospects.

It will also help them to be well prepared for any investor who wants to support them.

The Durham County Council-backed events will be led by experts from Finance Tree in Newcastle and will look at the processes involved with investment finance.

Topics covered will include writing an effective business plan; the sources of finance available such as equity, loans, and grants; how investment deals are structured; and how best to pitch for funding.

Jenny Kwok, innovation development executive at County Durham Development Company (CDDC) which is the strategic investment arm of Durham County Council, said: “For any business looking for finance, it is important to look at the factors the investor will be considering in deciding whether to invest in a company.

“These workshops are aimed at helping businesses overcome any challenges entrepreneurs may face and to give them a better chance of securing the investment they need to grow.

“The businesses don’t have to be in the science, engineering or technology arenas. The workshops are designed for any companies which are innovative, potentially high-growth, and based in the North-East.”

The workshops will tackle different investment themes on each day.

On Thursday, March 1, they will look at deal structuring and valuations.

And on Thursday, March 22, the topic is titled Finalising and Presenting the Business Plan.

Each of the workshops run from 12pm until 4.30pm at NETPark in Sedgefield.

To book a place, or for more information, contact Jenny Kwok at jenny.kwok@durham.gov.uk or call (0191) 3708680.

Business in the news

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

A BUSINESS forum holds its next meeting in Hartlepool later this week.

The Hartlepool Business Forum meets at Hartlepool College of Further Education to give delegates a chance to meet like-minded entrepreneurs as well as hear talks from leading industrialists.

The next meeting – titled How To Fund Your Business – will be held on Thursday, February 23.

Those interested in attending should arrive by 5.15pm for the buffet with presentations from 6pm.

For more information on January’s event, contact forum co-ordinator John Megson via Hartlepool Enterprise Centre, in Brougham Terrace, Hartlepool, TS24 8EY, tel (01429) 867677, fax (01429) 264304 or email john.megson5@ntlworld.com.

More details are also available by visiting www.hartlepoolbusinessforum.co.uk

l A UK business support organisation for the oil, gas, nuclear and offshore renewables sectors, is spearheading a market visit to Germany.

NOPF Energy is leading the visit between March 19 - 23 to Berlin, Leipzig, North Rhine Westphalia and Bavaria.

Its aim is to investigate opportunities for UK exporters in the German market with for the oil and gas sector as well as the re-emerging nuclear industry.

For more information or to book a place on visit please contact Kristie Leng at NOF Energy on (0191) 3846464 or email kleng@nofenergy.co.uk.

l CONSTRUCTION sites in the Tees Valley are being put under the safety spotlight as part of an intensive inspection initiative aimed at reducing death, injury and ill health.

The Health and Safety Executive has launched a campaign from now until March 16 to visit sites where refurbishment or repair works are being carried out.

Their primary aim will be to target high-risk activity such as working at height.

There were no deaths in the Tees Valley in the last financial year but more than 23 serious injuries were reported in Teesside.

There were two deaths and 132 serious injuries across the North- East.

Rob Hirst, HSE’s principal inspector for construction in the North-East, said: “The refurbishment sector continues to be the most risky for construction workers, all too often straightforward practical precautions are not considered and workers are put at risk. In many cases simple changes to working practices can make all the difference.

“Poor management of risks in this industry is unacceptable. As we have demonstrated in the past, we will take strong action if we find evidence that workers are being unnecessarily put at risk.”

Further information about safe-working in construction can be found online at www.hse.gov.uk/construction

A deal to develop homes for affordable rental

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

AN affordable housing specialist has been appointed to build an £800,000 residential development in Hartlepool.

Ten two-bedroom bungalows will be built at Newholm Court, Ormesby Road, Hartlepool, in a project for the Vela Group to be carried out by Southdale.

Once completed, they will be made available for affordable rent, and two of them will be adapted for wheelchair use.

Darlington-based Southdale has promised to recruit labour from the Hartlepool area to work on the project, with a further pledge to link with local schools and colleges to provide work experience placements and apprenticeships.

And local sub-contractors will be taken on in the scheme which is part of Vela’s 2011-2015 affordable homes programme.

Work is expected to start on site, subject to planning permission, this month and be completed in November.

Regional director Trudie McCormick said: “Southdale is delighted to be working in partnership with the Vela Group in developing high quality and much needed elderly persons housing in Hartlepool.

“As with all of our construction projects, Southdale is committed to providing a number of apprenticeships and recruitment opportunities for local people. We are also looking forward to hosting a community consultation event to inform residents about the positive changes which are due to take place in their area.”

Sarah Fawcett, head of development at the Vela Group, said “We are looking forward to working alongside Southdale who have more than 20 years of house building experience together with a strong commitment to the communities in which it works.

“Southdale’s pledge to support the local economy in the provision of long-term employment, work placements, apprenticeships and utilising local sub-contractors from the area, gives real added value to this important development.”