News and Events

The Tyne and Northumberland Annual Dinner is our most prestigious event on NECC calendar.

The dinner, which takes place at Newcastle Civic Centre, will play host to the region's top business leaders and is a perfect opportunity to network and celebrate the success of the North East's business community.

The event attracts over 400 key figures from leading businesses both within the region, and beyond. It is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to develop contacts and raise the profile of any organisation.

Jeff Brown of BBC Look North will return as our MC for this prestigious event and we will be joined by the Chairman of HM Revenue & Customs, Mike Clasper CBE who will provide the keynote address with Dame Kelly Holmes DBE providing the after dinner speech.

Discounted ticket rates cost £95 excl. VAT for NECC members (£105 excl. VAT, standard price for non-members).

Tyne & Northumberland Annual Dinner 2011

Thursday 03/11/2011

Time: 18:30 To Late

NECC events team on 0300 303 6322 or Email:

events@necc.co.uk

 

Newcastle Civic Centre

In the current economic climate many businesses are experiencing an increase in substantial aged debtors. A debtor that cannot or will not pay can cause cash flow problems to an otherwise successful business.

The commercial recoveries team at Hay & Kilner will demonstrate the steps you can take to apply effective measures to recover sums owed to you by your debtors. Hay & Kilner team members will explore some common scenarios where a business is having difficulties in getting its bills paid on time and demonstrate, by means of a role play, how you can deal with late payers who either won't pay or can't pay your invoices. This seminar will give practical tips on applying effective measures to safeguard businesses and improve debt recovery.

Can't Pay: Won't Pay with Hay & Kilner

Tuesday 27/09/2011

Time: 08:30 To 10:30

NECC events team on 0300 303 6322

Newcastle Racecourse, High Gosforth Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Would you like to better understand how patents and designs can be used to protect your ideas and inventions?

Do you need to find out how to make the most of your business' intellectual property using trade marks and copyright?

This event which will provide a great opportunity to hear presentations from IP experts at the Intellectual Property Office.

Feedback from a recent talk that Dave Hopkins at the Intellectual Property Office gave is available on the University of Glamorgan website.

Create, Innovate and Protect (Intellectual Property Office)

Tuesday 27/09/2011

Time: 08:30 To 13:30

Email Peter Buckley to register at Peter.Buckley@ipo.gov.uk

The Centre for Life, Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne

International markets are fast becoming an appealing prospect for regional businesses looking to expand their client portfolio, and expand into new countries. Many businesses however have limited knowledge of how to reach these new markets, and moreover, whether there is a need for their product or service overseas.

We are delighted to partner with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) on this event. UKTI run various export programmes that can help businesses understand more about the international marketplace focusing on supporting businesses to understand key areas around export communication:

· Export communication: how do you market your business overseas, what capabilities is your organisation lacking to enable you to market overseas and how should you communicate internally about international trade opportunities?

· Export market research: how can you find out about potential target markets and how do you go about market selection?

· The language of export: how can you overcome the language barriers you face and what are the key considerations when trading overseas?

 

Our speakers include:

Richard Gilbert, British Chamber of Commerce has worked with a number of international market research agencies, where he managed a broad range of projects for large multinationals and SMEs. Richard will discuss UKTI’s Export Market Research Scheme which offers all UK companies advice in putting a marketing research plan together for a new market.

Norma Foster, Director of Norma Foster Ltd has extensive knowledge of Export Communication; she has worked for a number of organisations in Europe and also set up her own company in Germany. Norma specialises in Business start-up, planning and development, eBusiness, Export Communications and Cultural Awareness, Enterprise, Rural Affairs, Project and Programme Management, Mentoring, Travel and Foreign Languages.

We will also hear from a regional company who has successfully exported its service to a new, overseas market. Our speaker will share their experiences and will explain how they researched the market, coped with the challenges they faced and how international trade has helped to grow their business.

Winning New Business: The Anywhere Economy

Wednesday 28/09/2011

Time: All Day Event

The Assembly Rooms, Newcastle upon Tyne

Whether you are a small company new to exporting, or an established multinational, this event provides an ideal opportunity to refresh your European export ideas and speak at first hand with a number of commercial officers from a range of countries in Europe.

This free event will include the opportunity to hear from a keynote speaker sharing their insight into international trade and particular on the European stage.

Market seminars and one-to-one meetings with commercial officers are available and should be booked in advance via our Regional International Trade Hotline. You will be able to book onto up to 5 one-to-one meetings and unlimited market seminars.

Via the seminars and one-to-one meetings you will be able to ascertain:

· How you can receive support in growing your business overseas in the above markets.

· Learn about upcoming opportunities in these markets

· What potential there is for your product or service in the markets represented and the business opportunities available

Europe - Export Europe: Opportunities on your Doorstop (Multi-Sector)

Tuesday 29/11/2011

Time: 09:00 To 16:50

UKTI Hotline

Tel: +44 (0)845 05 05 054

Email: enquiries@ukti.rito.co.uk

St James' Park, Magpie Suite, Newcastle upon Tyne

Service Network on 0191 244 4031 or events@service-network.co.uk

The Be World Class conference will help delegates to understand the key approaches and methods that differentiate World Class people and World Class organisations from the rest. The conference will involve a number of World Class people from a wide range of disciplines and fields whose journeys to success are transferable to any business situation.

The conference will follow an ‘In Conversation with...' model where these World Class people will highlight their experiences and journeys to becoming World Class. They will focus on the things they do on a daily basis to ensure they remain World Class and will demonstrate the characteristics of an individual that this demands.

The combination of these discussions will provide delegates with the key ingredients required to Be World Class.

Speakers:

Simon Hartley - performance coach
Simon is a sports psychologist and performance coach. During the last 15 years, he has coached a wide variety of high performing individuals, business leaders and teams. Simon and the speakers will explain the key principles that have underpinned their success, and how business leaders can apply these lessons to their business.

Kenny Atkinson - Director of Food, The Orangery
Kenny is Director of Food at The Orangery at the five star Rockcliffe Hall Hotel. By the age of 34, Kenny had been awarded two Michelin stars and is currently working on a third. The first was awarded at the age of 30 whilst at The Tean on the Isles of Scilly, which he followed up with a second at Seaham Hall. He has twice been a winner of The BBC television series ‘The Great British Menu' and was also named Chef of the Year 2009 at The Cateys, the catering industry's most fiercely competitive awards.

Chris Cook - world class athlete
Chris is a gold medal-winning 100m breaststroke swimmer. He finished his career shortly after becoming an Olympic finalist in Beijing 2008. He was the 7th fastest man in history in his event and one of only a handful to swim the event in under 60 seconds. In 2006, Chris won two gold medals and a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games. He has been a British and Commonwealth record holder. He has also won bronze in the World Championships in 2006 and a bronze in the European Championships of 2004.

Keir Worth - Head of Performance, England Squash
Keir is the Head of Performance at England Squash. England has dominated the sport of squash for the last 15 years. Incredibly, in 2011, England has three top ten ranked players in both the men's and women's game, including the coveted men's number one. England also has six men's players in the world's top 15. This track record makes England Squash one of the most successful sporting organisations in the world.

James Hoffman - world barista champion
James was crowned World Barista Champion in 2007 and coached the World Champions of 2008 and 2009. He also won the UK Barista Championships twice in consecutive years, making him the most successful competitive barista in the UK. James now runs Square Mile Coffee Roasters, perhaps the UK's most respected coffee roaster.

Bruce Duncan - international adventure racer
Bruce is one of the UK's top adventure racers, having won the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race in southern Chile three times in a row. He has also represented GB at mountain bike orienteering. In April 2011, he completed The Epic Tri, a six-day endurance challenge incorporating running, cycling and kayaking. In August, Bruce will compete in Gaelforce West and The adidas TERREX Coast-to-Coast multi-sport races.

Cost: £85.00 plus VAT

Be World Class

Thursday 06/10/2011

Time: 08:30 To 16:30

Ruth Craig on 0191 211 7930

The Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne

What is Lean Six Sigma and what's involved in adopting lean processes for your business? Is it right for all businesses? Large and small? And is it really relevant to the service sector?

As the UK economy struggles to emerge from recession, many organisations are putting their procedures and work processes under the microscope in a bid to become more efficient. By focusing on saving time, money and resources, businesses are looking to streamline their operations and ultimately, become more competitive in the marketplace.

Lean Six Sigma, the quality improvement methodology made famous by Motorola in the 1980s, was originally developed in and for the manufacturing environment and has achieved significant results within this sector.

However, this methodology is now proving to be a valuable tool in service sector environments by focusing more around people, rather than product. Often referred to as "transactional Six Sigma, early adopters have included financial service providers, healthcare systems and educational facilities.

The benefits of Lean Six Sigma include:

· Reduced delay and wasted time

· Reduced errors and mistakes

· Increased profits

 

Our expert speaker, Christopher Rowe, Director and Financial Management Trainer at Core Skills and Lean Six Sigma expert will take you through an introduction to Lean Six Sigma methodology, outlining its principles and benefits and how it can be applied within businesses. Christopher will also give advice about successfully introducing this methodology into organisations of any size or sector.

Distinctive Delivery: Lean Six Sigma for Service - Not just for the big boys

Thursday 06/10/2011

Time: 09:00 To 11:00

Please contact Sarah Thackray on 0191 244 4031

Durham County Cricket Club