Small businesses in the North East now have free access to professional occupational health advice to help with individual employee health issues following the launch of a new advice-line.
The advice-line, delivered by NHS Plus, will run until 31 March 2011.
Employers can call the advice-line on 0800 0 77 88 44
850 of businesses in the North East are set to benefit from a £125m ’super fund’. The new fund - formerly called JEREMIE - underpins the growth of business start-ups, technology-based companies and growing smaller businesses, helping to create jobs and prosperity for the region through targeted loans and equity investments. 5 management companies will target loans and equity investments into the identified areas
Compete North East’s role is to help North East businesses identify and win major public and private sector tender opportunities, assisting them in identifying and overcoming the barriers which prevent them from bidding for and winning new work. By commissioning a series of focused programmes, the service aims to provide businesses access to expert advice to support them through the process and ensure they are ready to tender ready.
For further information visit www.competenortheast.com or www.competefor.com
Following a number of new client wins, creative design agency Urban River has recently expanded in more ways than one. Reversing the current trend, they have recruited three new members of staff and moved into new premises right in the heart of South Tyneside.
Managing Director Carl Buckley said, “We have recruited the best staff and the move to new premises was a natural one. The benefit of a city centre location is an obvious one and our new office will create both a working and client experience second to none.“
Recently recruited to the award winning, full service agency are John Barker as Head of Head of Digital, Giuseppe Davies as Digital Designer and Michelle Tait as Studio Manager.
South Tyneside based Premier Maintenance and building services are proving they are top of the league by having recently received prestigious recognition by the National Tourist Board. Premier were awarded a contract by a local guest house to refurbish their premises, they set Premier the task of updating the accommodation to the high standards necessary in order for them to gain the highly acclaimed 4 star status with the National Tourist Board. After the owners witnessed first-hand the quality of the work being carried out, they immediately added to the scope of work ultimately resulting in Premier refurbishing the whole of the guest house including the living quarters.
Lynsey commented “It has been a very hectic time and I have had a steady flow of work, starting up during a recession was difficult, but many satisfied clients have passed on my details and slowly my name is becoming known. For part of the time I prepare planning and building regulations applications for clients requiring house extensions and the other part designing workshops for schools and museums around the theme of Architecture. It gives me lots of variety to my week working with people of all ages.”
Maureen Lindberg and Monique Ewart said they decided to move their company PPM from Newcastle to new offices at The Quadrus centre in West Boldon after winning a new business and taking on their first member of staff.
They say they are looking to win new clients in South Tyneside as well as Newcastle and had already signed up the South Tyneside Manufacturing Forum as a customer.
Ms Ewart said: “ After setting up the business less than a year ago we never imagined we would need to move into permanent office accommodation so quickly. The business has gone from strength to strength and we are looking forward to forging links with organisations across South Tyneside.”
John Wood, South Tyneside Manufacturing Forum’s Manager said: ”It is great that a new companies are setting up within South Tyneside and we welcome PPM to the borough. It is good to see young professionals prepared to apply their knowledge of Employment Law in a way that will support the business community.
BUSINESSES across the North-East have been urged to start preparing now for new legislation that will give agency staff equal treatment in the workplace.
The EU-inspired Temporary Agency Workers Directive is due to come into force next year.
It will mean that workers supplied through an employment firm will be entitled to full rights, including holiday pay and sickness benefits, after just 12 weeks in their jobs.
The radical moves could have a major impact on firms of all sizes, according to BiB Insurance, the region’s biggest independent broker.
The Darlington-based firm is calling on companies to ensure they are ready for the full effects of the directive coming into effect in December 2011.
The legislation will ensure that, once the qualifying period has been served, temporary workers will be entitled to equal treatment on pay, holiday and sick pay, benefits such as use of sports facilities or canteens, flexi-time, childcare, medical and dental insurance and care.
Every week 20 tradesmen die from asbestos-related disease. If you carry out work on a building that was built or refurbished before the year 2000, you could have been exposed to asbestos, without even knowing it. Asbestos is a hidden killer. So now’s the time to get clued up on the facts, so that you, your workmates, your friends and family are protected.
Asbestos is found in many products including the following
• SPRAYED COATINGS Found as fire protection on structural supports (e.g. columns and beams).
It is a high hazard asbestos product and can generate Very high fibre levels if disturbed.
• PIPE INSULATION Asbestos thermal pipe lagging is a high hazard asbestos product.
• ASBESTOS INSULATING BOARD (also referred to as AIB) ceiling and door panels. AIB is
a high hazard asbestos product and can generate high levels of fibres if the board is cut or
drilled.
• AIB WINDOW PANEL Like other AIB, this is a high hazard asbestos product, and if in good
condition should be left undisturbed
• FLOOR TILES Vinyl (PVC) or thermoplastic tiles contain asbestos
• ASBESTOS CEMENT ROOF SHEETING Asbestos cement sheeting is often found on industrial
building roofs and walls and domestic garage roofing
• TEXTURED DECORATIVE COATING (such as Artex) Textured coatings contain a small amount of asbestos. The asbestos is well bonded and fibres are not easily released. However, it is still an asbestos product, and as such, needs to be worked with safely
Where does asbestos hide? Check out the HSE hidden killer campaign interactive house www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/hiddenkiller/where-is-it-found.htm
After gaining an HND in Business & Finance and developing a successful career Carol Cain finally decided the time was right and embarked on achieving an ambition of hers that had spanned over a number of years. Square 17 Business Solutions was finally established in the summer of 2009 and after careful research and with the assistance of funding through Business Link, Square 17, which provides marketing and tailored business support to businesses in the region took on its first clients.
Carol said ‘ When I was carrying out research I discovered that although there was a wealth of agencies offering great support and various training and seminars, what was lacking for my particular target market was the ability to have someone actually come into the business, get to know your own particular market and see for themselves the day to day problems that you face and are up against. I also wondered “what about the small businesses who couldn’t afford to take time out, who would work with them?” It became apparent that this was to be the niche I had been looking for. (more…)