A fair day’s pay at Brewdog

I think it is a sign of the times when I was walking down Dean Street in Newcastle to the Quayside I noticed an A board outside the Brewdog pub. On it was written ‘We are a real living wage employer’ in capital letters. I was so taken by the sign that I took a … Continue reading A fair day’s pay at Brewdog

Have a casual meeting

Waterston's in Durham is a company that I have long admired, really ever since I met its founders, Mike and Sally Waterston. The company is built upon their strong ethical values and shows that you can be successful while doing the decent and right things.  I mention the company as I was down there for … Continue reading Have a casual meeting

Not Equal

Capitalism doesn’t have a conscience. It is a system in which money flows to where it can make the most return. If somebody can make it faster cheaper and easier the system will determine that they are the winners. Thankfully people do have consciences and it is they that can provide the bulwark against the … Continue reading Not Equal

Taking the pledge

Technology is yin and yang. In most cases it is developed for good yet can give rise to the bad. There is a  continuous tension between technology and humanity in that innovation works to cover a need yet, as soon as it leaves the factory gates others have found an alternative use for it.  My … Continue reading Taking the pledge

Why I should go to the Cyber 101 Boot Camp

You thought #CyberFest was all over, didn’t you? Well at least for this year, yet I promised you eleven events and the eagle eyed among you will know that we only had ten events in September. The final event, which was originally supposed to be held during September, is a Cyber 101 Boot Camp. For … Continue reading Why I should go to the Cyber 101 Boot Camp

Noise cancelling

When you see someone wearing headphones and tapping away at a laptop it means that they don’t want to be disturbed. The wearers are trying to ignore the world and grab a bit of peace. Not everyone recognises the signs however and insist on trying to engage the person in conversation. If you are one … Continue reading Noise cancelling

Digital for Growth

Last week’s North East Local Enterprise Partnership launch of the digital strategy was a good event. The meeting space at Proto was packed, with standing room only for many of the great and good in the North East’s digital sector, that is if digital is a sector. As with many of these events there were … Continue reading Digital for Growth

On a bus

Now I don’t often get a bus, not that I have anything against them, they just tend not to be as convenient as other forms of transport. I use the train more. This week though I found myself on one. I had gone in to Newcastle by train only to find that a meeting had … Continue reading On a bus

Form filling

I’m not sure if I will ever get to do this again but I have been beavering away trying to fill in a European Regional Development Fund form. If you have ever been involved in such a thing then you will understand the complexity and you have my sympathy. If you haven’t then you have … Continue reading Form filling