Sunderland Business Network - Committee Member List

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Tel: 0191 428 3335
Email: steve@thepowerservice-newcastle.co.uk
Company: The Power Service

Paul runs Pulse Creative Marketing with the aim of bringing practical marketing support to businesses of all sizes. With a marketing background and vast experience of providing marketing consultancy and coaching to businesses of all sizes, he is passionate about helping businesses implement effective marketing solutions. Paul has also developed ‘Marketing Magic’ – a unique marketing seminar that has helped open the doors to successful marketing for hundreds of entrepreneurs and businesses. Paul is looking forward to helping develop the services of Sunderland Business Network with the other board members.”

Tel: 0191 516 6016
Email: paul@pulsecreativemarketing.co.uk
Company: Pulse Creative Marketing

After gaining 7 valuable years experience in many different business environments Susan attended Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh from 1994 - studying for a Degree in Accountancy and Finance. Upon completion of her studies Susan returned back to the North East and worked with her family in an established electronic manufacturing company. In 2003 Susan joined Edensure Limited which was a new company set up by the two directors to offer petrol retailers a technological solution to potential fuel stock losses and leaks. There her position progressed up to Quality Manager within the company and in December 2005 instigated ISO9001:2000 certification and by May 2006 had successfully passed the external audit. S M Consultancy Services was setup to fulfil a long standing ambition of running her own business in the summer of 2007 and offers IT Training specialising in Sage Accountancy Software Bespoke training. The business has experienced rapid growth and from only 2 clients at start-up the client numbers have increased dramatically. During last year the company recruited a member of staff to assist with clients and have now branched out with the introduction of Red Sky Bookkeeping to run the accounting services side of the business. Susan is a member of the Institute of Business Consultants, a qualified Member of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers and holds a C&G Teaching Certificate.

Tel: 0191 516 6288
Email: susanlang@redskyuk.com
Company: Red Sky Consultancy & Training

John is an ex Powergen Sales Manager who founded Phoenix Energy (UK) Ltd in 2003. Phoenix Energy are independent utility brokers and consultants. They work mainly with Small / Medium Enterprises and shop around to ensure that their customers get the best possible deals on electricity, gas and telecom products. Phoenix Energy also specialise in helping builders and property developers to organise new utility supplies and metering. ‘We identified a gap in the market as many builders struggle to organise utility supplies as it is a distraction from their core business purpose. Phoenix Energy has always been about helping our customers and the consultancy was a natural progression from the brokerage services’ ‘One of the things I particularly like about my job is that I meet other local businesses – I have met most businesses in Sunderland and this has given me a great insight into the business community. I particularly enjoy helping start up businesses to save on their bills but also direct them to other sources of help and encouragement’

Tel: 0800 458 6460
Email: info@phoenixenergy.co.uk
Company: Phoenix Energy (UK) Ltd

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Tel: 0800 358 9953
Email: phillip.moir@richardreed.co.uk
Company: Richard Reed Solicitors

Margaret runs The Essential Virtual Assistant which provides secretarial and admin support to SMEs and busy individuals. Prior to setting up the business in 2007 Margaret had worked as a PA at executive level for over 20 years so has a wealth of experience to offer clients. “The inspiration behind the creation of The Essential Virtual Assistant came from a magazine article entitled “From PA to VA”, the timing of which was perfect as I was about to be made redundant”. “Virtual assistance is a growing business sector which could not exist without today’s technology, but getting people to understand the concept of having their work carried out by someone who isn’t actually there ‘in the flesh’ has been quite a challenge”. Margaret is very much looking forward to working alongside other members of the committee and hopes that she can help to move the network onwards and upwards over the next 12 months.

Tel: 0870 8 799007
Email: info@the-essential-va.co.uk
Company: The Essential VA

Andrew currently works in the Business Investment Team at Sunderland City Council, which aims to encourage and support local businesses to create new employment opportunities for the residents of the City. With a mix of both private and public sector experiences, he is well placed to understand the needs of small business and the support and assistance available to them. He has made a positive contribution towards many initiatives in economic regeneration and business support, in particular on areas such as business incubation, enterprise development and partnership working. Recent projects include the completion of the evolve business centre at Rainton Bridge, developing sub-regional partnerships to manage external funding, and developing enterprise projects as part of the Working Neighbourhoods Strategy in Sunderland. Andrew is passionate about the power of business networking and the many benefits it can bring, and is an enthusiastic champion of the Sunderland Business Network.

Tel: 0191 561 1451
Email: andrew.perkin@sunderland.gov.uk
Company: Sunderland City Council

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Tel: 0191 515 3555
Email: vince.robson@sunderland.ac.uk
Company: University of Sunderland

Paul Sturgess is the MD of Global Certification (Northern) Ltd which is the company with responsibility in the North of England and Scotland for the certification services provided by GlobalGROUP which is an international UKAS accredited certification body. The company is based at the BIC Sunderland and the core business is based on the quality standard ISO 9001 and the environmental standards ISO 14001 and BS 8555 however we have resources for providing certification for other areas eg food hygiene ISO 22000 and health and safety to OHSAS and Lift regs. Paul has a varied background that includes roles in various sectors including textiles, glass manufacture, warehousing and distribution, training and personnel before launching his own consultancy practice in 1989 specialising in supporting clients in achieving certification to the standards ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 and delivering associated training. During this period of consultancy the practice undertook projects in a number of sectors covering manufacture and service. When the opportunity to set up Global Certification (Northern) Ltd came up in 2004 he took it and since then has established a solid customer base of some 60 clients in a variety of sectors and a range of sizes that are serviced by himself and a team of other trained and skilled auditors. Paul’s aim for his tenure as Chairman is for the team to develop the SBN membership to achieve a level that will ensure self sufficiency going forward and that all those who join feel that they are not just joining a work group but are becoming a part of a working / social network something that is not always experienced in very small / micro / owner managed organisations.

Tel: 0191 516 6505
Email: paul@globalcertification.com
Company: Global Certification (Northern) ltd

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Tel: 07971 717349
Email: lisa.waller@workinglinks.co.uk
Company: Working Links