NEWS
The value of
work experience
Panel - (from left) Ben Houchen, Jerry Hopkinson and Philip Aldridge took part
in a Tees Business Leaders debate on the Tees Business Facebook page.
Freeport is “ours to lose” – mayor
Teesside is in the best position to be
named a designated freeport area
– and it could be up and running by
next year.
Speaking to Tees Business in our Business
Leaders Facebook Live interviews (in
association with FW Capital), mayor Ben
Houchen said the earliest any government
announcement could be made is likely to be
November.
How it will look and where any potential
boundary could be drawn are still up for
debate. The North East Process Industry
Cluster’s Philip Aldridge is drawing up
the consultation response on behalf of
Teesside’s vast process and chemical
industry cluster and firmly believes the
Wilton International and North Tees
chemical sites should be included.
If Teesside is successful in its bid for
the status, which would provide special
freedoms to trade within a specific area
around the port, creation could be as early
as May 2021.
A consultation process on the issue ended
on July 13.
Mr Houchen said the government will now
consider all submissions before making any
decision on if, when and where in the UK
freeport status might be granted.
“It is absolutely ours to lose,” he said. “We
are in the best position.
“We have a chancellor who is extremely
keen to see Teesside succeed and we
actually helped physically design the policy
that’s being discussed in Treasury at the
moment.”
The case for a freeport on the River Tees
has already been well documented, with
the potential to create thousands of jobs
and add billions of pounds to the region’s
economy.
IT EXPERTS ON HAND DURING CRISIS
The moment lockdown was
announced, many Tees Valley
workers packed up their laptops
and created temporary office space in
kitchens, lounges and bedrooms.
The exodus brought with it a deluge
of problems for the region’s IT support
experts, such as LaneSystems.
The Stockton-based company was
instrumental in many smooth transitions
from office to home – and its team
continues to offer first class solutions
and support for Covid-impacted clients.
“Initially we saw a huge surge in
demand for laptops,” says Lane’s business
consultant Toni Stratton (pictured).
“It was a great feeling to be able to
provide vital support and loan equipment
which we did from day one, despite a few
staff being placed on furlough.”
One issue that LaneSystems feels is
of paramount importance in these most
unusual of times is cyber security.
“Hacks increased by 60 per cent in the
first six weeks of lockdown,” says Toni. “So
it’s vitally important to know your security
options and be wary of potential problems.
LaneSystems can protect company data
and information from vulnerability.”
With the full LaneSystems team now
back at work, specialist help and advice is
even more readily available. If you already
work with another provider, ask them about
vulnerability testing.
“The bulk of our business is IT support
and we’re here to help you get through this
dreadful virus the best we can,” concludes
Toni.
For more information,
visit lanesystems.co.uk
Work experience is
an integral part of a
student’s first steps
into the world of law. It can help
students decide if they wish to
start a career in law and what
area of law they might practice.
At Jacksons, we have a range
of students attending the office
regularly on work experience
placements, from those
embarking on their GCSEs to
those studying their law degree
at university. These students are
able to work with our solicitors
to gain first-hand experience.
Given the current
circumstances, we are unable
to welcome students through
our doors. However, we set up a
virtual work placement scheme
which could be undertaken
during lockdown.
The scheme is made up of
two areas of law – private client
and property. The activities for
each area are split into three
different tiers to accommodate
the different stages of education
students may be at.
The first tier is a questionnaire
aimed at all students with the
second and third tiers being for
students who are at university.
The best entry from each week
wins a practice interview with a
member of staff from Jacksons.
We have been pleasantly
surprised at the number of
entries we have received.
Joshua Cela, second year
student at Queen Elizabeth Sixth
Form College, said: “Developing
my submission to participate
in Jacksons’ work experience
scheme has been extremely
insightful.”
The work placement scheme
is still open for entries and
can be found on our website,
jacksons-law.com.
Rebecca Webster
Trainee solicitor,
Jacksons Law Firm
The voice of business in the Tees region | 7