Newcastle design practice Ryder Architecture is celebrating after being named Architectural Practice of the Year at the annual Building Awards.
Over 1,000 professionals from the construction industry gathered at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London to honour achievements in the sector over the past year. Judges praised Ryder, noting: “[They] showed real quality, and a commitment to investing in staff training and career development. It has also invested in sustainability skills, improving knowledge sharing within the business and its services to clients.”
Ryder was also recognised as the Best Companies to Work For top company in the Architect and Surveyor category, while also taking the number five spot in the North East regional category and winning the Learning and Development Special Award.
Mark Thompson, managing partner at Ryder said: “I’m extremely proud of everyone at Ryder and the projects that we’ve delivered over the last 12 months – a huge thank you to all our clients and project partners. We have grown our teams, locations, expertise and services and, importantly, contributed a positive impact to the many communities in which we work. To be awarded Architectural Practice of the Year for the second time is an incredible achievement and a real testament to our people and our ethos of empowerment, which underpins everything we do.”
The Ryder-designed One Strawberry Lane in Newcastle also celebrated winning the British Council for Offices national Environment, Social & Governance award in October. Separately, Ryder was awarded Architectural Practice of the Year at the annual Education Estates conference in October.
North East activewear brand AJ Activewear has joined forces with Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter to help raise funds, support animal welfare, and encourage women to get active with their pets.
The collaboration will see the activewear brand, formerly known as Amazing Jane, donate 10% of all sales from their winter leggings to the Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter for the duration of the campaign.
Claire Goodliff, director, said: “The ethos of AJ Activewear focuses on empowering women to get into the right mindset for being active, whatever that looks like for them. This campaign encourages our customers around the country to get active with their furry friends and support a great cause at the same time. We’re also asking all of our lovely customers to send in photos of themselves wearing our winter leggings, with their pets of course.”
Debra de Luen, director, added: “We are incredibly grateful to be in a position where we can now help support Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter by donating 10% of all sales from our winter leggings to such an important cause. Both Claire and I are dog owners, and walking with them plays such an important part of our active lives, and mental health. With so many women out there walking each day, this seemed like such a great fit.”
Cramlington manufacturer CMP Products has marked its 25th anniversary in the US with a glittering dinner in Texas. The business, which manufactures cable glands, cleats and accessories for some of the largest construction, oil, gas, and petrochemical initiatives around the globe, brought together key customers, the Americas team, CMP’s senior global mangers and board members from CMP Ƶ for the event at The Bell Tower on 34th in Houston.
CMP Products opened its very first international office in the US in 1999 and since then has expanded globally. Today it has nine international offices around the globe and actively sells in six continents.
Jamie Hughes, CMP Products’ regional manager for the Americas, said: “In 1999, we took the seemingly giant leap from across the pond to begin our American adventure – and we’ve never looked back. “Through our tireless work to always provide high quality products and services to our ever-growing customer base; and the loyalty we’ve been shown in return, we’ve truly established ourselves as a force to be reckoned with in this vital geographical market. And I’m confident that 25-years will only be the first of our big anniversary celebrations in the Americas.”
Homelessness charity The People’s Kitchen in Newcastle has received a £1,500 donation from Barratt Homes North East’s nearby Sycamore Grove development, as part of the company’s initiative to give back to the community in which it builds.
The People’s Kitchen supports vulnerable and homeless people and helps fight hunger and loneliness for locals. As well as providing hot meals, the charity also shares packages of clothing, toiletries, food, mobile phones and sleeping bags. It works with services to help people to move off the streets, before providing food, furniture and bedding to people when they move into their first home.
The £1,500 donation will go towards keeping the operation going at The People’s Kitchen, which includes buying items such as sleeping bags, warm waterproof clothing, flasks, hats, scarves and dry shoes, in addition to food for people in need within the area. The housebuilder made the donation as part of its Community Fund initiative.
Maggie Pavlou, trustee at The People’s Kitchen, said: “We are very grateful for Barratt Homes’ donation, which is essential in helping us provide a vital lifeline for those most vulnerable in the Newcastle area. Homelessness is still a huge issue in our society, and our work provides a light in the dark for people who experience these difficulties.”
Emily Watson, sales manager at Barratt Homes’ Sycamore Grove development, said: “The People’s Kitchen does crucial work in the local community, and we are so pleased that our donation is helping contribute to the charity’s ongoing operations. Homeless charities are vital to communities and a hub like The People’s Kitchen is exactly what’s needed in Newcastle, so we’re more than happy to support the Kitchen to help our most vulnerable locals who are in desperate need.”
Ƶ Northumberland hotel, country estate, spa, and golf destination Matfen Hall has been named Best Countryside Hotel by the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence across the Ƶ, Europe and the Mediterranean in its 2025 edition.
The hotel beat off impressive competition to come away with the top award, presented at a ceremony last week in London, attended by the cream of the hospitality industry. This accolade follows the country estate being awarded an AA five-star rating earlier this year.
James O’Donnell, head of commercial development at Matfen Hall, said: “Matfen Hall has made significant strides in the past year, being awarded the first and only five star hotel in Northumberland and reopening our state-of-the-art golf clubhouse and dining destination – The Keepers. This recognition by Condé Nast Johansens is reflective of the work and commitment put in by the owners and colleagues. We thank everyone who voted for us and will continue to maintain this momentum to ensure we offer the very best experience for our guests.”
