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

Companies from the North East’s built environment have been recognised for outstanding regional projects, individuals and organisations. The Constructing Excellence North East (CENE) Awards 2023, held at the Grand Hotel, Gosforth Park, saw the Day Treatment Centre at The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust win two awards including integration and collaborative working and the award for value. P+HS Architects, Robertson Construction, CAD21, Gen North, Portland Consulting and DPP Planning worked on the project.

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals also won client of the year. Dogger Bank Wind Farm won the net zero and sustainability awards, Low Carbon Materials was awarded highly commended in the sustainability category. The conservation and regeneration trophy was won by the Bigg Market - NE1, historic property restoration project, involving MawsonKerr Architects, Southern Green, James Christopher Consulting, Artis Consulting.

Other award winners included Carney Consultancy, which took the people development award, Castle Building Services which won the SME of the year prize, and MGL Group which took the innovation prize. The chosen charity on the night was Launchpad, supporting homeless veterans, with over £3,400 raised.

Catriona Lingwood, chief executive at Constructing Excellence, said: “The calibre of the submissions was outstanding. Each and every individual or organisation that won an award or was highly commended or shortlisted, should be exceptionally proud. A huge thank you to all of our sponsors and judges and we look forward to seeing our winners go forward to the national awards in London in November."

Sage offices at Cobalt Business Park in North Tyneside (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

Software giant Sage, the official insights partner of The Hundred , has launched a competition that will see one small business owner receive free advertising and business advice.

Sage’s competition is designed to provide life-changing support to one winner as well as gifts for ten runners up. The winner will receive 12 months’ worth of prizes and support, including hospitality and match tickets, mentoring from Sage small business experts and the England and Wales Cricket Board, access to high profile cricket talent to help promote their business, as well as publicity and brand exposure, worth over £50,000, at cricket grounds around the ��Ƶ.

The chosen small business owner will also be given a £10,000 business grant. Ten runners up will benefit from hospitality and networking opportunities at this year’s tournament.

The Tyneside technology leader is using its partnership with The Hundred to reward a small business with regional and national promotional opportunities designed to help their business grow. A number of small businesses will be selected to showcase their business to a judging panel including the ECB and Sage.

Cath Keers, CMO at Sage, said: “At Sage, we understand what it takes to be a successful small business, after all that’s how we started. That’s why we’re working with The Hundred to offer a small business owner the support and insights they need. The competition prize will help elevate their business and expand their reach, which we hope will make a big difference to them.”

James Brown, head of commercial for The Hundred, said: “Small businesses are hugely important for our communities across England and Wales and it is brilliant to see that Sage, through their partnership with The Hundred, are offering opportunities like this to help them grow. For the winning small business, it will be exciting to see their logo displayed at venues next season as The Hundred continues to make cricket more accessible and reach new audiences."

Chris Watson, HR director at Esh Group (Image: Esh Group)

Esh Group has been awarded the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Covenant in recognition of its commitment to support the defence and the armed forces community. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

Esh will join a list of 46 businesses across the North East to have been awarded the ERS gold covenant, with a further seven organisations receiving the status this year. Since 2021, Esh Group has held the ERS silver award and recently launched its Soldiers to Sites – Careers in Construction initiative with Career Transition Partnership (CTP), where work experience and employment is offered to Armed Forces Employment Pathway Candidates.

The construction company is also a member of Forces Family Jobs, which offers training, employment and volunteer roles for family members of currently serving ��Ƶ military personnel. The company’s employees, who consist of a team of veterans who support veteran charities through volunteering time and fundraising efforts, can also benefit from policies including 10-days paid additional leave for reservists to attend training, as well as further flexibility for cadets and military spouses.

Chris Watson, HR director at Esh Group, said: “Ever since we achieved our silver status, our goal has been to continue to strive towards setting an example within our industry and become one of the select few to achieve gold status. We are filled with immense pride to be recognised for such a significant award and are dedicated to continue to implement specialist employee policies and support towards appropriate charities and organisations who work with service personnel.”

MIRA Marketing has announced a sponsorship deal with Darlington Mowden Park RFC (Image: Chris Booth for MIRA Marketing)

Darlington Mowden Park RFC has announced a new sponsorship agreement with North East marketing agency MIRA Marketing.

The new agreement will see MIRA work with the club to provide marketing and advertising support throughout the 2023/24 season. The new partnership will also include the launch of Mowden Monthly – a digital newsletter aimed at giving club supporters a behind the scenes look at what’s on at the arena. As part of their sponsorship MIRA will benefit from a range of advertising opportunities at Mowden Park’s 25,000 seat Darlington Arena.

Mira Marketing CEO Stuart Bramley said: “We are thrilled to embark on this exciting journey of brand expansion. With our recent growth, we have set our sights on forging strategic partnerships, and we are honoured that we can support Mowden Park as our first collaborative marketing venture. As we join forces with Mowden Park, we will leverage our expertise to empower their marketing and contribute to elevating their esteemed brand.”

Tom Bulmer, marketing and sponsorship manager at DMP added: “We’re thrilled to have Stuart and the MIRA team on board for the 2023/24 season. They have a proven track record with a range of big brands and I’m sure they’ll make a big contribution over the coming months.”

PD Ports CEO Frans Calje (Image: PD Ports)

A memorial to North East shipyard workers who gave their lives for their country during the two World Wars has been refurbished by PD Ports engineers.

The Smith’s Dock War Memorial, at the entrance to the Teesport Commerce Business Park, has seen the original memorial name plaques cleaned and made weather-proof, while the surrounding area has been turned into a garden of remembrance.

A private ceremony to re-dedicate the memorial was led by PD Ports chief executive Frans Calje and Liz Chambers, chair of the Smith’s Dock Park Trust. A blessing was made, followed by an act of remembrance and the playing of the Last Post.

The memorial wall was first erected in 1924 at Smith’s Dock’s South Shields site, to honour those employees who both served and fell in the Great War. An additional plaque was added following World War II. Following the closure of the South Shields operation the plaques were moved to Offshore House at South Bank, until the 1987 decision to close the dockyards and the end of shipbuilding by Smith’s Dock.

The plaques were moved to their current location in the late 1980s after PD Ports had taken over the site, when it became Teesport Commerce Park. The refurbishment project has been supported by PD Ports and contributions from a number of local businesses.

Frans Calje, PD Ports chief executive, said: “These memorial plaques are an important part of the heritage of Teesport Commerce Park and this work will mean that they will remain in pride of place for many years to come. Thanks must go to our engineering team for their hard work and for the support of the Smith’s Dock Park Trust for their advice and guidance.”

Liz Chambers, chair of the Smith’s Dock Park Trust, said: “On behalf of Smith’s Dock Trust I would like to thank PD Ports for all their hard work in the restoration of the memorial and the Remembrance Garden, where people may visit their relatives in a quiet haven of the dock.”