Team Valley manufacturer Zentia won the Business Challenge at the AJ Bell Great North 10K, to become the fastest team in Toon. The ceiling solutions company had a team of 10 runners in the event on Sunday July 2 and their four fastest runners - Gary Bailey, Ben Weetman, Lewis Cameron and Chris Gray - all managed to come in under 50 minutes, giving Team Zentia the fastest overall time.
Gemma Smith, from Zentia said: ‘‘Sunday’s run was a fantastic event for us, as soon as we finished, we were already talking about taking part next year - and now we will definitely be there to defend our title! As a team we were incredibly supportive of each other’s goals and really spurred each other on to achieve the times we wanted."
The winning team will be invited to a presentation of their plaque at Great Run later this month.
Clifford Chance took second place, just 10 seconds behind the leaders. The law firm, who had 23 employees taking part, were all raising money for Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation, inspired by the motivational speaker and disability advocate Claire Lomas, who took part alongside them on the day. In third place was Ryder Architecture, supporting the Newcastle United Foundation, who came in just over two seconds behind Clifford Chance. Teams from a number of other North East businesses, including Robson Laidler and Rycroft Glenton were represented on the day.
Becky Langley, Newcastle United’s Women’s team manager , has been named an ambassador for Smart Works Newcastle, the charity that empowers all women who need help getting into work. Smart Works uses high quality clothing and one-to-one coaching to help unemployed women through the interview process and to get the jobs they want.
Ms Langley’s appointment comes as Smart Works Newcastle celebrates five years of giving support to women in the North East, while UK wide Smart Works Charity marks its 10th anniversary. She said: “I am thrilled to be joining Smart Works Newcastle as an ambassador. Having learned about the amazing work that they do empowering women into work across the North East, I can’t wait to be more involved and use my role and profile to support and share the work they do.”
“Becky is a role model for women across the region and beyond,” said Sophie Milliken, MBE, chair of Smart Works Newcastle. “She embodies the Smart Works values, and we are thrilled to have her as an ambassador as we aim to support record breaking numbers of women in the region into employment."
Over the last five years the Newcastle Smart Works team has supported over 1,600 women on their employment journeys and this year, they plan to support 1,000 more.
A Newcastle design and marketing agency has created a special map to help families track down a flock of famous sheep across Tyneside this summer.
St Oswald’s Hospice’s Shaun on the Tyne art trail will see 45 large and 70 smaller Shaun the Sheep sculptures scattered round the city from July 19 for 10 weeks. Different Narrative has given its support on the two previous trails – Great North Snowdogs in 2016 and Elmer’s Great North Parade in 2019 – and offered its services again for this year’s event.
The agency’s map will help people navigate the locations where the flock can be found, also including additional information to ensure they get the most out of the experience. Trail organisers, St Oswald’s Hospice, are working with creative producers Wild in Art and Shaun the Sheep creators, Aardman, to create the trail.
Different Narrative senior designer, Chris Pescod, said: “It’s not only great for our agency to get involved but from a personal perspective it’s nice to work on something that is so visible across the region. It’s fantastic for us to be able to give something back. We have a Change for Good agenda which carries the same values as the hospice. It’s brilliant to be able to put our skills to good use for a purpose-driven campaign and it’s good to know that what you specialise in is going to make a difference.”
The maps will be available from vendors across the region, including Shaun on the Tyne HQ at the Civic Centre and all St Oswald’s shops, for a suggested donation to the hospice of £1.
Libby Fryer, Shaun on the Tyne project, added: “We are so excited to be working with Different Narrative again, after forming such a perfect partnersheep during previous trails. Creating a map with 115 Shauns spread across a city is no easy task, but we think they have done a wonderful job.”
Ex-Newcastle Falcons players Mark Wilson and Carl Fearns have signed a new deal to help local sports clubs save on their energy bills.
The pair are working with Durham-based Fusion for Business (FFB) on its community ambassador programme, which has already saved clubs across the region £375,000. FFB, an energy solutions partner, is hoping to increase this amount further with the signing of the two sporting legends.
The rising cost of energy bills has resulted in nearly two-thirds of sports clubs having to make changes, which has resulted in some taking the tough decision to close their doors. FFB, based in Consett, acts as an energy solutions partner for businesses, sports clubs and associations across the UK.
Mark Wilson, who made 237 appearances for Newcastle Falcons and was capped 23 times for England, said: “Rugby has been my life for nearly 20 years, building up through grass roots level to playing in the premiership and for England. I know first hand how important local community and sports clubs are to young people in particular for their physical and mental wellbeing, and the impact that the cost of living and energy crisis is having on some of these clubs is not good.
“Joining the community ambassador programme with FFB means that I can open the door to a trusted source for these clubs, where they can get advice on saving money on their energy bills, how to become more energy efficient and even looking at new ways to generate money that they can reinvest back into the club – I’m looking forward to getting started and really helping to make a difference.”
Maisie Cole, head of community ambassador programme at FFB, said: “We work with all levels of sports clubs across the UK but no matter the level, clubs are faced with unprecedented times coming off the back of Covid-19, the energy crisis and rising living costs, all while trying to keep afloat and remain a vital part of our local communities.”
North East charities ranging from scout troops to those supporting young people with life limiting diseases have benefited from donations from the Miller Homes Community Fund.
The housebuilder asks charities and good causes to apply each year for a share of £10,000 for a project or activity, with payouts made twice a year, in June and November. The latest round of recipients has been unveiled, in which eight organisations have received between £500 and £1,000 to help them continue their good work.
They include the Washington-based Little Onion Club, which uses gardening activities to bring the community together and to promote sustainability and the Newbiggin Heritage Partnership, which runs the local Newbiggin Maritime Centre. Other beneficiaries include Durham’s Laurel Avenue Community Association, Ringway Primary School at Choppington and the 2nd Herrington Scout Group HQ from Sunderland.
The latest round of payouts also includes a number or health related charities - Newcastle-based FANS (Families1st4Additionalneeds) which supports people and their families dealing with autism and other neurological conditions, Tyneside Women’s Health and The Nicole and Jessica Rich Foundation. The largest payment went to Byker-based organisation, Tyneside Women’s Health to help the group continue the delivery of its Sunday Lunch Group.The group, which meets fortnightly when other services are closed, provides a “vital space for women who would otherwise be alone on weekends.”
Elaine Slater, chief executive of Tyneside Women’s Health, said: “The main purpose of the group is to reduce social isolation, enabling women to access light touch mental health and peer support. The group ensures that women eat a healthy meal and promotes healthy eating. Women develop their daily living skills by helping to prepare and cook the food, clean and wash up. The donation from the Miller Homes Community Fund will allow us to continue to provide this vital service.”
Miller Homes regional managing director, Patrick Arkle, added: “At Miller Homes we are about building communities as well as homes, which is why we set up the Community Fund. We know there are so many good causes across the North East doing really vital work and we are glad to be able to support some of them through this initiative. We welcome new applications from any other charity or organisation that would like to put themselves forward for the next round of donations, which will be made in November.”
