Sector Experts...
Bruce Allinso
n - Senior Design Associate
Bruce has worked within the creative industry since 1980 and has wide ranging experience across all media and sectors. Previous work includes projects with Newcastle and Gateshead Councils, Barbour, Berghaus, Flymo and Nissan.
In 1999, Bruce founded the charity, Design Aid, supporting charitable organisations with professional creative services. Design Aid clients include Shelter, Centrepoint, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and RZSS. Bruce is particularly adept at developing effective communications materials for complex product and service concepts. His approach combines experience and expertise for powerful results.
Bob Marris - Enterprise business and financial planning
Proven business growth expertise. An established expert in business growth planning, Bob has an excellent track record in assisting businesses across many sectors plan for growth and access finance. He has built up an invaluable network of proven expert skills and private investors through his past roles, managing and delivering the North East Equity Matching Fund and a prominent regional business angel network. More recently he has worked on a number of consultancy programmes for a leading business support agency and North East based Universities.
Richard Hall - Innovation finance and project management
An enviable reputation for raising finance, Richard is passionate about providing the very best quality of support to organisations seeking to grow and has secured the regional ‘innovation champion award’ for his contribution to North East business R&D. With an enviable record in raising finance both at early and intermediary stage, Richard has an innate understanding of the practical needs of young and growing organisations.
Richard Simpson - Healthcare
Richard is a seasoned PR specialist with extensive experience in the public sector and is retained by several important institutions, including the NHS.
At present he is the national editor on local government issues for the Chartered Institute of PR, the national professional association.
He is also a visiting lecturer in marketing and PR.
Stuart Colmer - ICT
Stuart is an entrepreneurial individual responsible for the establishment of four unique businesses since 2001.
He has an impressive corporate background having held board positions in UK, Europe and North America. Stuart has been a director for global names such as Photobision, ViaSystems and an international senior manager with Procter and Gamble.
His background has particular emphasis in strategic planning, new venture development and change management. Stuart is passionate about the need for practical information systems to support business growth.
Suzanne Dobson - Food
Suzanne joins the team as food retail and marketing specialist. Before taking up her current role as module leader and lecturer in retail marketing at Newcastle University, Suzanne worked as marketing executive within SK Chilled Foods where she had practical involvement with of NPD projects and manufacturing sites to product concept through to launch.
She is passionate about the North East and is keen to extend networks to align academic teaching provision enabling students to have an appreciation of industry needs in order to grow the local economy.
Jamie Macalister - Retail
Jamie has 16 years of consulting experience. He specialises in marketing, communications and customer relationship management. Recent projects have been with MyTravel, Thomson retail, AirMiles and Nestle. Jamie trained in sales and marketing with Procter and Gamble and has an MBA from the Wharton School in Philadelphia and an Engineering degree from Cambridge University.
Christopher Drew - Pharmaceuticals
Christopher specialises in market intelligence and ‘soft' information for scientific industries. He has been involved in supporting a range of commercial developments and has established expertise in tailored introductions and problem solving for process industries. He is a chartered chemist and scientist as well as being a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Christopher holds a BA and MA in Natural sciences from Kings college, Cambridge and a MSc in solid state physics from Sir John Cass College, London.
Peter Sutcliffe - IT and Business Development
Peter is a qualified financial accountant, strategic business planning and coaching specialist with over 20 years working for blue chip companies and SME's within the financial, ICT and retail sectors.
Peter has been senior manager at GEC, IBM and Deloitte Touche, Peter is also a lecturer at Liverpool Hope University, a fellow of the Institue of Financial Accountants and a support lecturer at the Centre for Leadership Development.
Peter's prime interests now relate to 'company doctor'/financial business consultant assisting organisations to grow and prosper
Mark Brannigan - Manufacturing and Project Management
Mark is an experienced manager and project director in the manufacturing and IT sector. Mark has worked for a number of large companies including Simula, Tor Coating and American Air Filters. More recently Mark has worked on a number of cost and quality control projects in the IT sector aswell as a high impact security project. Mark has a degree in business studies, nebosh health and certificate and is a trainer in Kaizen.
