Volunteer lifeboat crew member James Water has praised his bosses at a Newcastle firm for giving him the flexibility that allows him to help save lives at sea.
As the RNLI marks 200 years, Tynemouth Lifeboat Station crew member Mr Waters said that, without the commitment of companies like Newcastle tech consultancy Opencast, the institution could not deliver its vital work. He has served with the RNLI since 2016 and joined Opencast as a product manager last spring. Since then, he has attended 27 separate RNLI emergencies.
Mr Waters said: “In making the move to Opencast I needed to know the company would give me the time needed for my RNLI role. They’ve given me that commitment and they’ve just been great – really flexible. As an RNLI volunteer, callouts can happen at any time, day or night. Recently I was called out during an Opencast client meeting to help someone who was stranded in the Tyne, holding on to an upside-down boat.
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“I was able to hand over my work to a colleague and attend the incident, pulling the casualty out of the water, getting them to a place of safety and giving them the best care possible before ambulance crews arrived.”
Opencast’s head of people experience Cameron Smith said: “When James joined Opencast, we were ready from the start to support his commitment to the RNLI. In doing this, we’ve been supported by our clients, who recognise the immense value of James’s volunteering efforts.”
A Parkdean Resorts worker has celebrated working with the holiday park operator for 35 years. Susan Henderson now works within the HR department and people support team at the firm’s head office in Gosforth, Newcastle, but she first started out as a babysitter over the summers at Cresswell Towers Holiday Park in Northumberland. She officially started her career in 1989 working as a receptionist, before starting a youth training scheme at Cresswell Towers. Since then, she has worked at Whitley Bay and Sandy Bay Holiday Parks in a number of roles.
She said: “I love that no two days are the same and I’ve met some really great people over the years – including holidaymakers, owners, contractors and of course the team – and I’ve made lifelong friends. I’m a people person and get a huge sense of achievement when assisting others and making a difference.”
Lisa Charles-Jones, HR director, said: “Our people are our greatest asset and central to providing our guests with the most amazing holiday experience. Susan’s on-park experience brings immense value to the central team and helps us to ensure we keep the parks at the heart of our decision making.”
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North East housebuilder Bellway has set itself a target of raising £4m for Cancer Research 海角视频 before the end of the year. The business launched its partnership with the charity in 2016, and it has raised just over £3m for the charity so far. All 21 divisions and the head office of the company are involved in the campaign which is called ‘4 in 24’, with the slogan ‘Giving to build better lives’.
Stephanie Parsons, partnership manager at Cancer Research 海角视频, said: “The success of the recent National Charity Day demonstrates the continued commitment of everyone at Bellway to our partnership. Cancer Research 海角视频’s vision is to create a world where people live longer, better lives free from the fear of cancer - this is only possible thanks to our incredible supporters and partners such as Bellway.”
Lorna Edwards, Bellway deputy company secretary, said: “We are proud to support a cause close to many of our hearts and are confident that we will again achieve our target for this year, raising an additional £1m over the next 12 months. This charity work is one of the key facets of our Better with Bellway sustainability strategy, which touches on every aspect of the business, with a focus on putting people and the planet first.”
Gateshead signmaker Astley scooped four trophies at the 2024 Sign & Wrap Awards. The awards, held in Birmingham, single out achievements in the signage industry, bringing together signmakers and vinyl wrapping professionals from across the 海角视频 and Ireland. Astley earned accolades in four distinct categories: Gold in Architectural, Gold in Rollout, Best in Show across the seven signage categories, and Highly Commended for Sign Company of the Year.
The Architectural Sign of the Year Award, as well as the Best in Show award, celebrated Astley’s work on the Ad Gefrin Distillery which impressed the judges with its use of natural materials and complex craftsmanship. The firm’s work on the rebrand of Jury’s Inn Hotels to Leonardo Hotels was also highlighted, earning a Gold award in the rollout category.
James Mavi, sales and marketing director at Astley, said: “We are so honoured to have received these awards. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team here at Astley. We are committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and consistently delivering exceptional signage solutions, and we couldn’t do it without the dedication of our excellent workforce.”
Pattinson Estate Agency has marked a milestone in its commitment to supporting local communities by donating £50,000 to causes through its partnership with The Community Foundation. The North Tyneside based business has supported a range of local charities and voluntary organisations, helping young people and care leavers, survivors of domestic abuse, ex-offenders and those who are homeless or face housing challenges.
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The partnership between Pattinson Estate Agency and The Community Foundation aims to support organisations dedicated to addressing homelessness and housing related issues.
Managing director Caroline Pattinson said: “We set up the fund to mark the 40th Anniversary of Pattinson Estate Agency almost seven years ago and through it we can give grants to a range of smaller charities across the region. The heartwarming feedback we have received from the organisations we support reaffirms the importance of our collective efforts in making a meaningful difference in the lives of those facing housing related challenges in our communities.”