Issue 2 | Page 13

News ADVICE Movie makers – Canvas HQ directors Nathan Clark (left) and Richard Rowell launched their new venture earlier this year. VIDEO VALUE How a media start-up is building customer relationships A new company is offering a fresh take on video and media production. Canvas HQ, founded by Nathan Clark and Richard Rowell, is becoming popular with local businesses for its valuebased service. Creative director Nathan told Wear Business: “We constantly push the quality of our output to meet an evolving market. On every new job we ask ourselves, ‘How can we make this better than the last?’, knowing that greater quality means happy customers and an improved portfolio.” Before founding Canvas, the pair worked in digital video marketing and live event production, and both completed media degrees at the University of Sunderland. They worked on many projects together as freelancers, and realised their own firm would be an ideal platform for their shared values. Nathan, from Durham, added: “Our basic aim is to build strong customer relationships by delivering a high quality, quick, personal service at a fair price. It’s pretty simple, and the feedback has been positive.” The pair are enjoying getting back out working in the aftermath of Covid-19 and have since produced content for Laneberg Wine’s brand awareness campaign and Great Annual Savings’ expansion announcement. Richard, technical director from Sunderland, told us: “Our successful launch in February was momentary as the country soon entered lockdown. It’s been an anxious time but at least our paperwork is all up to date! “We’re now focussed on moving safely forwards with our customers and peers.” View their portfolio online at canvashq. co.uk £5.5m works complete at key County Durham employment site Multi-million pound infrastructure works at a site, which is primed for a key role in County Durham’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, are now complete. The improvements, at junction 61 of the A1(M), at Bowburn, will significantly improve access to the Integra 61 development, which is set to become a premier industrial and logistics location, as well as addressing longstanding congestion and safety issues. The 205-acre site, owned and being developed by Citrus Group, will provide three million sq ft of high quality industrial and logistics space as well as 270 residential properties, a hotel, nursery and roadside retail units. The £5.5m junction improvement scheme has been carried out by Durham County Council and jointly funded by the authority, the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Highways England. The investment has already helped attract online retailer Amazon, which this summer announced plans to open its second North- East fulfilment centre at the site, bringing more than 1,000 permanent new jobs to the area. FIND A WAY TO MAKE A WILL The current pandemic will no doubt have given the public pause for thought on many things, but as a solicitor who specialises in the subject, I’m hoping the minds of many will have turned towards the need to finally make a will. The unheralded arrival of Covid-19 this year, along with its deadly consequences, has brought home to millions the fragility of human life and yet, alarmingly, around 60 per cent of people in the UK have still not made a will. Every adult who owns property or has savings or a child or children under 18 should have an up-to-date will. If you do not, those you wish to inherit your assets may well not receive them as, in the absence of a will, the government decides who inherits, and these people may not be those you wish to inherit anything. Not having a will can cause untold stress and anxiety for your loved ones as well as a potentially costly and lengthy legal dispute. Is there anyone especially who should make a will? Anyone who isn’t married to their partner or has children to a previous marriage or relationship. If you are not married, your partner will not benefit from your estate and if you have re-married, your children from a previous marriage or relationship may not benefit at all on your death. A will also allows you to appoint a guardian for any children under 18 at your death, so your wishes are clear who will look after them. Always seek out an experienced solicitor specialising in this area of law to make your will and a Lasting Power of Attorney as well. David Smith Partner and head of private client department, Sweeney Miller Law wear.business – the voice of business for the Wear region | 13