North East business life: community, award and charity events of the week

Robson Laidler Accountants is celebrating after scooping the ESG Impact Award at the North East Accountancy Awards 2024.

After being named as one of the Best Places to Work in the Sunday Times, the accountancy and advisory firm, with offices in Newcastle and Durham, won the ESG Impact category at the ceremony held at St James’ Park.

The ESG Impact Award is for teams who can demonstrate commitment and achievements in environmental, social, and governance.

Managing director Graham Purvis said: “We run our business on the triple bottom line principle of people, planet and profit, ensuring there is equal measure between these. We hope that our commitment to doing business differently will be an inspiration to others and promote the idea that we can redefine success in business to be as much about making a positive difference to people and planet as it is about profit.”

The operator of the Tyne Tunnels has teamed up with Groundwork South and North Tyneside to boost community engagement and wildlife habitats at a Hebburn woodland that is home to a rare species of butterfly.

TT2 is donating £16,220 to help increase the number of local people getting closer to nature at Monkton Community Woodland, which is home to the scarce Dingy Skipper butterfly. The site, a former coke works, is owned by The Land Trust and managed by Groundwork for the benefit of wildlife and the community.

The money will pay for materials, workshops, habitat creation, a new ornamental butterfly walking route, volunteer expenses, training, wildlife specialists, and gloves, tools, bulbs, and seeds for their project, Counting on Nature. The scheme supports children with anxiety, particularly those with climate anxiety, so they can help reduce climate change by planting trees and flowers.

Andrew Watts, CEO at Groundwork Trust said: “It is much more well-known these days, the many benefits that spending time in nature can bring for our mental health and it is more important than ever that people have access to high quality green space within walking distance of their homes. This support from TT2 will enable the woodland to help lots more local people. We are very grateful and can’t wait to get started.”

Newcastle company North has won the silver award for digital PR agency of the year - small at the UK Digital PR Awards.

The UK Digital PR Awards celebrates both small and large agencies and teams across the UK, acknowledging teams and individuals who have delivered outstanding work across the last year, through campaigns, content and stunts. North’s entry focused on its recent merger with sister agency Ortus.

Senior digital PR manager at North, Mary Hickey said: “Everyone at North is delighted to have won the silver award for digital PR agency of the Year - small award at the UK Digital PR Awards - it’s a highly prestigious and competitive award so to win is an incredible honour and a testament to the team’s work over the last 12 months.”

The design studio which helped to create Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery in Wooler, Northumberland, scooped the silver award for experiential design at the Scottish Design Awards 2024. Studio MB was recognised for its extraordinary imagination, creativity and professional expertise which helped to create Ad Gefrin’s immersive interior experiences.

Ahead of launch in spring 2023, Ad Gefrin and Studio MB worked closely together to create the museum and visitor experience that brings to life the Golden Age of Northumbria and the culture of that period of history.

Dr Chris Ferguson, director of brand and experience, said: “Working with Studio MB to create Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery was an absolute joy from beginning to end. We are delighted that Studio MB scooped a silver award at the 2024 Scottish Design Awards for their brilliant work. As innovative designers, they worked closely with our team to realise a unique immersive experience that really brings to life Northumberland’s Anglo-Saxon ‘Golden Age’ and our wider showcase of the heritage, ancient hospitality and contemporary crafts, arts and produce of the region.”

Young martial arts talent Jay Pringle is set to kick his way onto the world stage, thanks to support from a North East business. Jay, 15, is set to compete in the Taekwondo World Cup in Argentina this autumn, after securing sponsorship from developer and commercial property landlords UK Land Estates, owners of the Team Valley Trading, Teesside Estate and Tyne Tunnel Industrial Estates.

Having already secured the title of Under 50kg European Champion, earlier this year, he has set his sights on the world stage, where he’ll take on some of the most exciting Taekwondo talent from across the globe. He said: “Because I’ve been doing this since I was young all of this has also applied itself to my life and has helped me not only be physically fit but also to build my self-confidence and resilience. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the support of UK Land Estates. Without the company’s generous sponsorship, I simply wouldn’t be able to compete on a world stage, as Taekwondo is completely self-funded.”

UK Land Estates managing director, Keith Taylor, said: “As a business, we always aim to be a good neighbour and a proactive member of the communities that surround our sites. As such, when Catherine contacted us about Jay and we heard about his achievements and his unrelenting desire to be the best he can be, we jumped at the chance of being able to support him. Everyone at UK Land Estates is proud to back Jay’s efforts and wish him all the best at the World Cup.”