March 2010 - Adobe PDF - Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

8
news
Economic
<strong>Stockton</strong>
Regeneration and Transport
Entrepreneurs of the future
real business, the students then designed a company identity,
produced a business plan complete with financial planning
and came up with advertising ideas.
After a morning of hard work, three finalists were chosen
- Active Attitude, a company providing the school with
interactive dance classes and equipment rental; Design n Go,
a company providing personalised sports clothing for the
school’s clubs and classes; and Pure Plims, a company providing
personalised plimsolls from a crew of creative designers.
A team of ‘dragons’ made up of local business and enterprise
specialists listened to the creative and energetic pitches of the
three finalist teams. The teams faced a series of questions
about their businesses and all responded professionally and
effectively.
Active Attitude, the winners of the challenge
Year 10 pupils at Northfield School, Billingham,
recently had the chance to develop their talent and
start a real business in a special entrepreneurial
challenge day organised by <strong>Stockton</strong> Council’s
enterprise culture project.
Splitting into tutor groups, more than 70 students produced
company portfolios which set out ideas for businesses they
would like to see set up in their school. These included
stationary sales, exercise clubs and bicycle hire.
Working through all the stages they would need to set up a
The dragons chose Active Attitude as the winning team. They
will receive support and funding from the Council’s enterprise
culture project to set up their business over the coming
months.
Design n Go and Pure Plims were invited to resubmit their
ideas a group of local entrepreneurs and enterprise champions
to re apply for funding.
The day was hailed a great success and will be repeated in
April.
The Enterprise Culture Project is funded by <strong>Stockton</strong> Council’s
Communities Fund and the European Regional Development
Fund 2007-13 (ERDF) with investment secured through One
North East.
Just what the doctor ordered
Neil Gutteridge, 57, (pictured)
is embarking on a new career
following help from an
employment advice service
offered by 15 GP
surgeries across the Tees
Valley.
years. Neil’s adviser showed him how
a new career could improve his health
and self-confidence and referred him
to the NHS Condition Management
After several sessions working with
his CMP Practitioner, a life coach and
a specialist on relaxation techniques,
Neil began to look for a new job. He
seized the opportunity when he
saw a vacancy for an NHS driver – a
perfect chance to help others out
of work due to health reasons.
Neil, from Norton’s Glebe
Estate, now drives for NHS
Tees and NHS Darlington
after a Jobcentre Plus adviser,
based at his GP surgery,
helped him back into work.
Jobcentre Plus is working
with the surgeries to offer
support for people on
incapacity benefits as part of
the Government’s Pathways
to Work scheme.
Neil’s GP referred him to the scheme
after he had to stop working as a
commercial heating engineer after 40
Programme (CMP). This offers support
from healthcare professionals to help
people claiming Employment and
Support Allowance or Incapacity Benefit
with their long-term health conditions.
Neil said: “My previous
employment started to affect my
health and I knew I needed to do
something about it. The Condition
Management Programme was
excellent. After only a few weeks
I felt in control of my situation and
was once more able to return to
work.”
CMP is open to anyone claiming
Employment and Support
Allowance or Incapacity Benefit who
feels they need support with their
health condition before they can return
to work. To find out more, call 01740
665055.