Wear Business Wear Business Issue 1 | Page 3

WEAR BUSINESS ISSUE 1 HIGHLIGHTS Welcome 14 MAKING HAYS GUEST FOREWORD From Brad Groves I t gives me great pleasure to provide the guest foreword for what I think is a brilliant addition to the business scene of the Wear region. Martin Walker, from Resolution Media and Publishing, approached me a few months ago about this concept. He showed me some of the publications his team are producing elsewhere in the North-East, and it really didn’t take me long to lend my support to it. The feeling was that the Sunderland and Durham areas aren’t fairly represented across the North-East region, and that a business magazine dedicated only to this area would help to redress the balance. It’s fantastic to read about some of the great things that are happening in this first issue – and it’s confirmation that Sunderland and Durham very much mean business. When we read so much bad news and negativity in the wider media – and on social media – positive publications are an essential tool to be able to spread good news and create a buzz. And this debut edition of Wear Business has that in abundance! In this issue alone, we can hear more about the £100m riverside plans for Sunderland and the new £14m Jade Business Park currently being constructed near Dalton Park. And, of course, we hear more from cover star John Hays about his incredible journey – beginning from one humble store in Sunderland to the £1 billion group he has today. While we can’t boast the same numbers as Hays Travel, the growth of our business, Great Annual Savings, is a success story of its own, and we were delighted to have the opportunity to talk about that in this first issue of Wear Business. I’m genuinely excited for this region. There’s lots happening, we’re ambitious and we want to create a strong local economy, prosperity and wealth. I’m confident Wear Business will contribute towards that in the years to come, and I look forward to reading about more positive business news from our great region in future issues. Brad Groves Chief executive, Great Annual Savings W Wear Business North East Business & Innovation Centre (BIC) Wearfield Enterprise Park East Sunderland SR5 2TA Email: [email protected] Web: wear.business 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. Email [email protected] for more details. Published and distributed by: Resolution Media & Publishing Editors: Graeme Anderson and Colin Young Executive Editors: Dave Allan and Martin Walker Designed by: KINSHIP Contributors: Julie Burniston, Chris Petty. Photography: Tom Banks, Chris Booth, Gilbert Johnston, Martin Walker. 22 A GYM THAT FITS THE BILL Mandale Business Park set to welcome new fitness centre 24 Q&A Ellen Thinnesen reveals her guilty pleasures 26 LEADING LIGHT Business cost-serving firm continues impressive growth plan 32 BUSINESS CHAMPIONS THE NEW VOICE OF BUSINESS ear Business is the perfect way to promote your successes, products, services and news to your fellow local businesses – and potential customers. Published every quarter, 5,000 copies of Wear Business are delivered FREE to the Wear region’s business communities in Sunderland, Durham, Seaham, Peterlee, Houghton-le- The inside story on the UK’s feel- good business story of the year How future thinkers Baldwins play pivotal role for clients 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 [email protected] *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 | 3