Welcome
FOREWORD
By Bob Cuffe
As another extraordinarily testing year for business comes to an end , congratulations to you all for surviving and , for some , thriving . You ' ve faced unprecedented challenges from a business perspective while dealing with the personal and family traumas none of us will forget .
The vast majority of business leaders I talk to are looking positively to 2022 and what it will mean for their business .
This positivity is certainly evident in this issue of Wear Business which I hope you enjoy and take pride in how the region ’ s businesses are managing through the greatest challenges of modern times .
As non-executive director of Resolution , publishers of Wear Business , I know exactly how challenging the past two years have been – for our clients and for our own fledgling publication . We ’ d published just one issue when Covid struck and the first lockdown landed .
But it was our immediate plan to ensure we continued to print and distribute a magazine we always believed was much needed for this fantastic region . At the same time , we pivoted to go online with much success .
Of course , establishing the magazine amid the pandemic has not been easy . It has brought obvious challenges to the distribution of print copies , as well as promotional networking events that we ’ d otherwise have held across the region on a regular basis .
And yet here we are , fast approaching two years on and very much the voice of business in the Wear region . We ' ve survived and are determined to thrive .
That ’ s very much the message from Karen Eve in our cover feature , as she explains how the Bridges Shopping Centre has come through what has been a brutal time for the high street but has hit the ground running . Footfall is up by more than 50 per cent – and exciting new ideas are set to be unveiled .
I truly believe the Wear region will not only thrive but potentially boom in 2022 . Challenges remain , of course , but new opportunities abound .
The region ’ s businesses , from Sunderland to Durham , Seaham to Peterlee , Houghtonle-Spring to Chester-le-Street , are determined to build on the lessons learnt and emerge stronger than ever .
You ’ re going to have plenty to shout about – and , at Wear Business , we ’ d love to help shine a light on your successes , achievements , contract wins and plans for the future .
We look forward to hearing from you . Here ’ s to an amazing 2022 .
WEAR BUSINESS ISSUE 7 HIGHLIGHTS
16 Building Bridges
Meet the shopping centre guru with her eyes on a positive future
12 On course to change lives
ESF-backed courses at Sunderland Uni are short , fully-funded and transformational
22 Meeting the challenge
How Business Durham has helped companies during the pandemic
24 Wear Talk
We talk to Media Savvy MD Dan Makaveli
THE VOICE OF BUSINESS IN THE REGION
Wear Business is the perfect way to promote your successes , products , services and news to your fellow local businesses – and potential customers .
Published every quarter , thousands of copies of Wear Business are delivered FREE to the Wear region ’ s business communities in Sunderland , Durham , Seaham , Peterlee , Houghton-le-Spring , Washington and
Chester-le-Street . See our website wear . business for our Media Pack with full details of our packages starting at just £ 245 + vat .
Our skilled team can write your editorial , take photographs and design beautiful adverts for no additional charge .
To get involved , call our sales manager Chris Garbutt on 07824 344877 or email chris @ resolutionpublishing . co . uk .
26 Good vibes
Award-winning law firm runs a happy ship
North East Business & Innovation Centre ( BIC ) Wearfield Enterprise Park East Sunderland SR5 2TA Email : info @ wear . business Web : wear . business
Published and distributed by : Resolution Media & Publishing Executive Editors : Dave Allan and Martin Walker . Designed by : KINSHIP Photography : Graeme Rowatt , Tom Banks , Chris Booth .
PRIVACY POLICY Our Privacy Policy is to make it easier for you to understand what information we collect , why we collect it , and how we use it . You can view our policy online at wear . business / privacy . If you do not want to receive hard copies of Wear Business , or our weekly e-news , please email info @ wear . business
* All rights reserved . Reproduction , in whole or part without written permission , is strictly prohibited . Wear Business accepts adverts and advertorials in good faith and takes no responsibility for errors and / or omissions . We cannot be held responsible for advertisers offering goods or services . All information is correct , to the best of our knowledge , at the time of publishing .
wear . business – the voice of business for the Wear region
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