Serving the Teesside Business Community | 65
/ MIDDLESBROUGH NEWS
PR EXPERT SPREADS
WORD ON MEDIA SKILLS
Tees Business co-editor Dave Allan has
provided media training for major Tees
employers including PD Ports.
A
Communications firm run by Tees
Business co-editor Dave Allan has won
praise after launching a media training
service for North-East organisations.
Two of Teesside’s biggest companies, who
between them employ around 1,300 local
people, have hired Middlesbrough-based
DNA PR & Publicity to freshen up the media
interview skills of their senior management
team.
Kirsten Donkin, marketing and
communications manager for PD Ports,
praised the training sessions, saying: “Our
senior management team found DNA’s media
training course to be very useful. It gave
participants a great insight into how to build
good relationships with the media as well as
how to deal with media interviews. It was
fun whilst delivering serious and impactful
messages. We would highly recommend it.”
PD Ports hired Allan and DNA on the
recommendation of an international chemical
company whose UK headquarters are based
on Teesside.
The corporate media training courses focus
on preparing management staff to face the
media in a variety of challenging scenarios,
whilst providing participants with dos and
don’ts and a range of interview tips.
Allan, who has worked in the PR and
media industry for more than 30 years,
including extensive spells at ICI and
Middlesbrough FC, said: “The sessions are
great fun but pack a punch with a series of
thought-provoking but very realistic scenarios
participants may find themselves in when
facing the media.
“They are designed to make senior
managers feel better equipped to deal with
potentially challenging media interviews - and
it’s naturally pleasing to receive such positive
feedback.”
DNA, who also provide PR, media
relations, marketing and social media
services to a wide range of Teesside
organisations, are looking to support more
firms with their media training requirements.
For more details, contact Allan on 07711
025009 or email [email protected].
DNA work in partnership with Marc
Thorneycroft of Darlington’s Photoworks on
the media training.
Mum swaps
Tesco for forensic
psychology
A mum-of-two from Middlesbrough who
thought she would never get the chance
to go to university is now on course to
become a chartered forensic psychologist.
Mandy Clarke, 47, was working in Tesco,
knowing she wanted more from life, when
she decided to enrol on an Access to
Higher Education course at Middlesbrough
College.
She had not studied for more than 25
years, but is now pursuing a passion for
psychology and working in the field to help
people with severe brain injuries.
Despite a lack of confidence in herself
before the course, Mandy excelled at
Middlesbrough College and went on to
study Psychology and Counselling at
Teesside University.
PSYCHE TURNOVER
TO TOP £9M
Cornerstone's Chris Petty (right)
with Boro manager Garry Monk.
Cornerstone backing
the Boro
Teesside IT leaders Cornerstone Business
Solutions have strengthened their links
with Middlesbrough Football Club by
becoming the Championship side’s new
shorts sponsors, in a move that is a first
for Boro.
As part of the deal, the logo of the
Stockton-based business IT firm will
appear at the base of the back of all home
and away shorts worn by Boro’s first team
squad during the 2016-17 Championship
season.
Cornerstone’s name joined fellow kit
sponsors Ramsdens and Durham Tees
Valley Airport on the Boro kit.
Cornerstone has been Middlesbrough
FC’s official technology partner since
2008, sponsoring the Riverside Stadium’s
popular Family Zone.
Tees fashion retailer Psyche says it’s set to
record a record turnover this year.
Middlesbrough-based Psyche, which offers
an instore and online shopping experience
with its hand-picked selection of well over
200 established brands and emerging
designers includes the likes of Moncler, Dries
Van Noten, Paul Smith, Aquascutum and
Armani, is heading for annual sales of £9m –
up £1m on 2016 figures.
Psyche’s website now accounts for 40% of
its business, while online sales have climbed
78%.
Psyche head Steve Cochrane.
/TeesBusiness
LOOKING TO MAKE
A BIOMASS IMPACT
A training firm which specialises in
emotional intelligence has been awarded a
contract to deliver behaviour-based safety
training at the world’s largest new-build
biomass power station construction site.
High Impact Development, a leading
behavioural training company, has won the
contract to deliver workshops for principal
contractor Tecnicas Reunidas at the Tees
Renewable Energy Plant (Tees REP) site in
Middl esbrough.
High Impact, based on Aycliffe Business
Park, has now delivered the first round of
workshops to more than 200 delegates,
with an overarching objective to quickly
develop a high-performing workforce for
TR that is willing and able to perform their
tasks in a positive, productive and safe
manner.
@Tees_Business