OnPath Energy’s planning team has been shortlisted for a national award.
The Houghton-le Spring company has been nominated in the In-House Planning Team of the Year category of the 2024 Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence, which highlight the positive contribution planning professionals make in the communities.
The eight-strong planning team is responsible for managing the development of all aspects of OnPath’s planning applications, from first principles through to completion and commissioning. OnPath is the only North East business and the only renewable energy firm to be shortlisted in the category, and is competing against a range of household names for the award, including the National Trust, Network Rail, NHS Property Services and ASDA.
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Rachel Allum, planning director at OnPath Energy, said: “Our planning team is involved at all stages of the life cycle for a range of complex and large-scale projects, and takes immense pride in the quality of work that it delivers, so it’s exciting for us to have our approach and effectiveness recognised by the RTPI. There’s a deep personal commitment from all the members of our planning team to developing and delivering renewable energy projects that have a positive impact on the communities in which they’re located, make a wider positive impact on the environment and contribute to the country’s continuing journey towards achieving its Net Zero ambitions.
Newcastle law firm Hay & Kilner is celebrating after being awarded silver accreditation by Investors in People (IIP). Investors in People, the international standard for people management, recognises what it takes to lead, support and manage people effectively to achieve sustainable results.
Over a period of a few months, staff were asked to complete engagement surveys to be submitted to IIP, along with on-site visits and meetings with staff and partners to review supporting documents. The report showed that staff were positive about the success of the firm and felt proud to work for Hay & Kilner, with its supportive, nurturing culture and the friendliness of partners being noted as particular highlights.
Employment law partner, Sarah Furness, said: “I am incredibly proud of the whole team for this achievement - absolutely thrilled. We are already putting in place a three-year plan to further reinforce our values and company culture to ensure everything aligns internally. The report included so much positive feedback, which was great to receive.”
A new defibrillator has been installed in Hartlepool thanks to a donation from local housebuilder, David Wilson Homes. The defibrillator, which has been installed by the DS43 Community Defibrillator charity, has been chosen to sit on Reedston Road as part of the charity’s mission to ensure that a defibrillator is available to the public within a 350m radius wherever possible. The charity was created following the loss of cricketer Danny Shurmer three years ago, who passed away from a cardiac arrest at only 43 years old.
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David Wilson Homes’ donation of £1,500 contributed towards the costs of the new defibrillator and cabinet through the housebuilder’s monthly Community Fund initiative, which sees charities across the region receive financial support every month.
Bill Shurmer, Danny’s father and trustee of the charity at DS43 Community Defibrillator, said: “With so many areas of Hartlepool not offering access to defibrillators, it’s crucial that we work to resolve this issue facing our town and offer available life-saving equipment to all. We’re extremely grateful to David Wilson Homes for their support in helping us to achieve our mission, and providing a donation towards the new defibrillator in Hartlepool.”
Ashlea Wright, sales manager at David Wilson Homes’ Elwick Gardens development: “We’re so pleased to be dedicating our Community Fund initiative to support the vital work that DS43 Community is doing across the local area. As a local housebuilder, we strongly believe in supporting the local communities in which we build, and we would like to take this opportunity to encourage other businesses who may be able to support DS43 to get involved and support their vital mission.”
A community facility at a County Durham football ground has received a boost thanks to a five-figure grant from the Banks Group. The South Stand venue has been created as part of the £1.6m upgrade of the recently-reopened Beamish Football Centre in Stanley, which includes indoor training spaces, function rooms and a new bar. Muckle also prides itself on the work it does within the North East community, and since 2002 its community foundation has helped over 500 charities, giving £700,000 through 700 grants, while staff have also put a lot into volunteering and pro bono work.
Social enterprise Stanley Events will be running and hosting community activities at the centre, including ‘knit and natter’ meetings for older residents, a range of advice sessions and one-to-one support services for local young people. A £10,000 grant from the Banks Group’s Banks Community Fund has enabled the Stanley Events team to buy a range of outdoor furniture that can be used for different events and activities in order to help to create a flexible outdoor breakout space for visitors to use.
Anna Marshall, manager at Stanley Events, says: “The amazing new Beamish Football Centre is an aspirational focal point for our community and provides a hugely positive context for the work that will go on inside and outside the building. The Banks Group have taken a very accommodating and open approach to providing their invaluable funding support, which has really helped us use this grant in the most impactful ways possible, and we’ve built a really strong relationship with their team.”
Lucy Hinds, executive assistant at the Banks Group, added: “Stanley Events has helped improve the lives of hundreds of local people through their training and skills development work, as well as through the jobs they provide, and the team deserves huge credit for its achievements over the last 13 years. The new facility gives them a fantastic opportunity to build on everything that they’ve already achieved.”
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Property investment and development group Hanro and commercial property agency Naylors Gavin Black have been honoured for their contributions to the revival of the Grade II listed Tyneside Cinema. Newcastle-based Hanro helped the venue to deal with some difficult issues with the front of the cinema on Pilgrim Street and with the building’s lighting, while the cinema was struggling with the worst funding crisis in its history. Meanwhile, Gavin Black has worked over a number of years to ensure that the cinema has been able to reach a new era in its 87-year history.
Adam Serfontein, chairman of The Hanro Group said: “The Tyneside Cinema has been a great Newcastle institution for many years and adds a lot of value to our city. It is a pleasure to work with them and, with so many others, support its bright future.”
Mr Black said: “Naylors Gavin Black have been delighted to assist the Tyneside Film Theatre with regard to their lease of the Cinema. They are a significant charity in the cultural sector in Newcastle and deserve our support.”
Nic Greenan, CEO at the Tyneside Cinema, said: “As the proud custodian of The Tyneside we are so grateful to Newcastle business community coming out to support this much-loved heritage asset. Works like this are just unaffordable for the charity so the help of Hanro, Naylors Gavin Black and our many business supporters in the city and the region has been a lifeline in ensuring the upkeep and appearance of the building. The Tyneside is also hugely grateful to Gavin Black for his dedication over the years to support the future of the Tyneside.”