Sunderland news
Dragons’ Den star joins Bradley Lowery team
T
he new star of hit
BBC television
show Dragons’ Den
has become patron of
the Bradley Lowery
Foundation.
Sara Davies MBE,
founder of Newton
Aycliffe-based Crafter’s
Companion, which
designs, manufactures
Dragons' Den Sara Davies (left) has become a
and sells craft products
patron of the Bradley Lowery Foundation.
online, will become
does is so important. As a North East
patron of the charity.
businesswoman and more importantly,
Two years after Bradley’s passing, his
a mother of two young boys, I felt such a
mum Gemma has turned the tragedy of his
connection to the charity so when I was
short life into a beacon of hope for other
asked to be a Patron, it was one of the easiest
youngsters with life-limiting conditions.
decisions that I have had to make.
Since it was founded, the charity has
“I’m so proud to represent such a
raised more than £3m for dozens of poorly
wonderful foundation and I am very excited
children, established a dedicated support
to support Gemma and the team in any way
line for the families of children with cancer,
I can.”
donated £100Ks to researching childhood
Founded in 2005 by Sara Davies MBE,
cancers, campaigned for new drugs to be
Crafter’s Companion employs 200 staff and
introduced in the UK and plans to build a
exports products to more than 40 countries
holiday home for sick children and their
across Europe, Asia, South Africa, Australia
families in Scarborough.
and North and South America.
Sara Davies said: “I remember hearing
Gemma Lowery, founder of the Bradley
about Bradley and how the nation fell in love
Lowery Foundation, and Bradley’s mum,
with his cheeky personality and winning
said: “We’re delighted to welcome Sara on
smile. His legacy has enabled hundreds of
board, her work and business experience is
poorly children across the UK to receive
inspirational.
specialist equipment, physiotherapy, life-
“With her support, we look forward to
changing treatment, and so much more.
being able to do even more to support poorly
“Gemma is really inspiring and the
children across the UK.”
work that the Bradley Lowery Foundation
NEW BUSINESS FLOWS
INTO PORT
A UK
manufacturer
is set to invest
millions and
create scores of
new manufacturing and distribution jobs
with the opening of a new purpose-built
terminal at Port of Sunderland.
Brineflow, a leading manufacturer of
liquid nitrogen fertilisers, has been granted
permission by Sunderland City Council to
construct a new base at the port with an
initial capacity of handling 50,000 tonnes
per year.
The hub will see Brineflow import and
store liquid fertiliser for the agricultural
industry in the North-East and the Borders,
breathing new commercial life into disused
land at Youngs Quay in the port.
Flame firm on fire
Flame Heating Group has been named as
one of Britain’s top 100 private companies
when it comes to delivering sales growth.
The independent plumbing and heating
merchant, headquartered in Boldon,
features in the 2019 Sunday Times Virgin
Atlantic Fast Track 100 league table.
Ranked 76th in the table, it recorded
sales of £20.1m and achieved a 50 per cent
annual sales growth during the three years
to June.
DIALLING INTO NEW
OPPORTUNITIES
The company which introduced mobile
phones to the North-East in the 1980s
is dialling into new opportunities after
celebrating its best year to date.
Sunderland-based Nice Network,
which rebranded from CCS just over
12 months ago, saw an additional
£1.2m added to last year's turnover
after welcoming on board a host of new
clients.
Founded in 1986 by managing director
Chris Lee, Nice Network is a family-
run business famed for selling the first
ever mobile phone in the North-East
and was one of the founders and Home
Office award winner for creating the
specification for what is now known as
the Thatcham vehicle security systems.
Forecasting a bright future
A transatlantic tech firm, designed
to help businesses accurately predict
future performance, is forecasting
a bright outlook for its platform
after moving to a new head office in
Sunderland.
ProForecast has developed cloud-
based software that uses artificial
intelligence (AI) to help businesses
strategically plan for the future,
providing in-depth predictions and
reports that enable users to make
informed decisions about their
future growth plans.
Founded two years ago by
experienced businessman Steven
Katirai, the company, which also
has an office in Mexico, relocated
to Sunderland Software Centre in
September to coincide with the
official launch of its product and its
recent rebrand.
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