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PRIVACY
Enterprise

North East business life: charity, award and community events of the week

Companies included in this week's round-up include Avison Young, Settld, Banks Group, Jacksons Law Firm and Bellway

Avison Young staff went to Smart Works in Newcastle on the firm's annual Day of Giving(Image: Avison Young)

Staff at property consultancy Avison Young have taken part in a number of activities on its annual Day of Giving.

The company has offices around the world, all of which participated in the annual event, with the Newcastle office spending time at Smart Works Newcastle, a charity that dresses and coaches unemployed women in preparation for a job interview. Colleagues took their clothing donations to the charity and helped to sort and steam many more donations.

Gordon Hewling, principal and managing director, Avison Young, Newcastle, said: “Corporate Social Responsibility ranks highly on the Avison Young business agenda. This is the 11th Avison Young annual day of giving and it’s genuinely great to make a positive contribution to the local communities where we both live and work.”

West Rainton & Leamside Village Partnership hosts the free Friendly Faces Lunch(Image: Banks Group)


A monthly community lunch which aims to tackle social isolation in a County Durham village is set to welcome local people through the winter thanks to a four-figure grant from the Banks Community Fund. West Rainton & Leamside Village Partnership hosts the free Friendly Faces event at the Jubilee Hall on North Street in West Rainton, with up to 60 local residents attending each month and free transport laid on through Easington Lane Community Access Point.

The event was set up in the aftermath of the pandemic, during which local business owner Julie Dawson of Julie’s Deli started to prepare free weekly meals for a number of older local people who needed a helping hand. A £2,000 grant from North East employer the Banks Group will help organisers to cover the project’s costs from October through to March.”

Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, said: “There’s a lovely atmosphere at Friendly Faces and we’re really pleased to be helping the Village Partnership to continue welcoming everyone along every month.”

Vicky Wilson, who co-founded Settld with her mother Julie, four years ago. The fintech startup was acquired by Manchester based The Estate Registry in June 2024.(Image: Settld)


North East-launched bereavement notification service Settld has been named the top º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Mobile and Emerging Technologies StartUp of the Year at the 2024 º£½ÇÊÓÆµ StartUp Awards. Settld, which became a service of The Estate Registry in June this year, was also selected as a national finalist in a separate category at the Startup Awards.

Vicky Wilson, who founded Settld four years ago and is now chief customer officer at The Estate Registry, said: “This award is a real testament to the hard work, dedication and compassion of our team. We are thrilled to be recognised at the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ StartUp Awards.”