Property and mining firm the Banks Group has become one of a handful of North East businesses to gain a gold level accreditation from Investors In People for its performance in people management.
The County Durham firm has held an IIP accreditation for more than two decades, achieving silver accreditation in 2018 and maintaining it in a further assessment three years later. Having increased its investment in learning, development, leadership resources and managing and rewarding performance over the last three years, the family-owned firm has now achieved its best ever IIP assessment result. Feedback from the IIP assessors noted the “good management relationships based on respect” and the feeling that “people are generally enthused and excited about the future.”
Harry Banks, chairman and chief executive at the Banks Group, said: “This much sought after Gold Standard Investors In People accreditation is a credit to our whole team, and I am delighted by the recognition it provides of the high standards of the training, management development systems and corporate values which have been central to the success of the group over many years.”
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North East businesses have helped to raise £35,000 for Alzheimer’s Research 海角视频 at an annual Ladies Day 2024 fundraiser. Around 250 guests were at the Together For A Cure at the sell-out event held at Hilton Gateshead which will see all funds donated directly to local dementia research at Newcastle University.
Barclays Bank colleagues who gifted their matched funding to the event, and headline sponsor Talentheads backed the event for a third year running, alongside exhibition area sponsor Ramsay Healthcare, drinks reception sponsor Hilton Hotel and The Perfume Shop which provided goodie bags.
To support this year’s event Sara Grix of Alzheimer’s Research 海角视频 recruited regional business leaders including Scott Wilson-Laing of WL Distillery, Sam Spoors of Talentheads, Jane Dennison of Dragonfly Cancer Trust, Lauren McWiliams, visibility strategist and brand photographer and Claire Pickersgill, of House of Hype and Co.
D. Daniel Erskine, Alzheimer’s Research 海角视频 (AR海角视频) senior fellow and senior lecturer at Newcastle University said: “The event was a great success, perfectly balancing the pressing importance of supporting dementia research with providing a fun networking experience for those in attendance. As a dementia scientist who cares deeply about dementia research, it was heartening to see such a large turnout of people dedicated to standing with AR海角视频 for a cure for dementia.”
Jacksons Law Firm solicitor Emily Skillcorn has been named as the first ambassador of the High Tide Foundation, recognising her work helping students to get meaningful work placement opportunities and careers advice. Ms Skillcorn has been supporting the High Tide Foundation’s mission to stop the ‘brain drain’ from Teesside by giving young people access to careers advice and activities from industry leaders and businesspeople across the region.
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The associate solicitor, who works in the firm’s litigation team and heads up equine law services, has been involved with the foundation since she first became a trainee at Jacksons in 2020, and the firm is also a longstanding corporate patron of the charity.
She said: “It was a massive surprise to be named as the charity’s first ambassador and a genuine honour. It also feels right, because I feel so strongly about the work the High Tide Foundation does – and the people who work there are incredible.”
A charity golf day brought together businesses from around the region to raise over £10,000 for Butterwick Hospice. The event was sponsored by family-owned motor company Croxdale Group Durham and took place at Ramside Hall, with 16 teams playing on the Cathedral Course. A team put forward by Taylor Wimpey were the victors on the day, followed by runners-up Smith & Friends.
Anthony Rockingham, managing director of Croxdale Group, said: “It means a great deal to us to be able to support a local charity that does so much for people in the local area going through some of the most difficult times in their life. The golf day was a great event and everybody really enjoyed the day despite the weather, which definitely had an impact on the way we played!”
The Biscuit Factory has announced a partnership with St Oswald’s Hospice to support its services through a fundraising drive. The collaboration has been launched with a raffle featuring an original painting by local artist, Anthony Marshall. The painting, of the lily pond in the Adult Inpatient Unit garden of St Oswald’s, was created for the fundraiser and is part of Mr Marshall’s exhibition at The Biscuit Factory. The fundraising raffle was officially launched at a private preview event last week at The Biscuit Factory and the painting is now on display in the gallery’s autumn exhibition.
Kathryn Tye, strategy and communications manager at The Biscuit Factory, said: “We’re delighted that Anthony generously agreed to donate this original painting to help us raise funds for St Oswald’s. His passion for the project was immediate when he saw the garden images. This marks the beginning of an exciting series of initiatives supporting such a vital facility that we’re incredibly fortunate to have in the North East.”
Anne Tuck, matron of the Adult Inpatient Unit at St Oswald’s, said: “For many, being outside and feeling the wind or seeing the sunshine is something deeply meaningful. I’ll always remember one patient laying out a towel on the grass and sunbathing—it was such a simple yet profound moment of joy.”
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Northern Powergrid has honoured one of its most innovative stakeholders with its first ‘Powerful People’ award. Designed to champion customers across the North East, Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire, the award celebrates the people driving change, through innovative ideas for decarbonisation, sustainability or helping others.
The first winner is Keith Jackson, local resident and the driving force behind Northern Powergrid’s Boston Energy Efficiency Trial (BEET), a project that is harnessing smart meter data from more than 15,000 households and businesses in the pilot area, to optimise network voltages and improve the energy efficiency of customers’ appliances.
Paul Glendinning, director of energy systems at Northern Powergrid said: “The North has long been recognised as a hub for innovation. We’re at the forefront of the transition to a low carbon economy, and the ripple effect of this can be felt across the communities we serve. At Northern Powergrid, we’re committed to championing the bright ideas of our customers, and when we see value in a proposal, we see it through. Mr Jackson is a fantastic example of Northern innovation. We’re delighted that we’ve been able to make his idea a reality and acknowledge his contribution.”