Newcastle based Haystack has raised £500,000 from the North East Venture Fund (NEVF), supported by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Mercia, as it seeks to expand overseas. Haystack was launched in 2020 during the pandemic by former recruiter Chris Bone and software developers Mike Davies and Rob Simmons to help tech workers make more informed career decisions.
The company uses advanced matching technology to help more companies and tech workers hire smartly and find their ideal roles, using an algorithm to match individuals with suitable roles, removing the need for recruitment agencies. The platform enables developers, data engineers and other tech professionals to view job opportunities in confidence and find out more about the companies, or simply assess the state of the jobs market. Candidates can choose to withhold their details or alternatively create a profile for employers to view.
The firm, winner of the North East newcomer of the year 2021, raised more than £1m in seed funding a year ago to develop its platform.
Now, after seeing recurring revenue has increase five-fold over the past year, the company has more than 130 customers including Experian, Skyscanner and Lloyds Banking Group, which pay to put their profile and jobs online, and over 30,000 registered users, with the figure growing by around 2,000 a month.
Tyneside software giant Sage has agreed to buy a Seattle-based firm that offers accounting products and services for small and medium-sized businesses.
Lockstep employs more than 130 people in the US and has a stable of products that aim to connect accounting teams and their systems, streamlining processes and improving cash flows. The undisclosed deal will see it bring its offer to the North Tyneside-based group.
Lockstep's products include applications to automate accounts receivable and accounts payable tasks, and an API platform that allows third party developers to create connected services. Sage told investors of the move and said Lockstep's platform is already home to more than 26,000 businesses.
Following the deal, which is expected to complete in September, Lockstep's management team will join Sage to help drive the development of Sage's digital network. The FTSE100 plc also said the move does not impact its recent financial guidance in which it said 2022 revenues are expected to grow between 8-9%.
A Northumberland sustainable tourism business is introducing a romantic getaway with the help of a five-figure investment.
Dave and Harvest Harris-Jones set up Laverock Law Cottages and Glamping 11 years ago on a two-acre site at Lowick near Berwick-upon-Tweed after restoring three semi-derelict cottages, which they now offer alongside a handcrafted shepherd’s hut made from local timber. As part of the next stage of the business’s development, the pair are building a heart-shaped treehouse in a secluded location on the site which will sleep up to four people, scheduled to be available before the end of September.
A £25,500 Small Loan Fund investment secured through regional fund management firm NEL Fund Managers is now enabling the company to complete the fit-out of the treehouse’s interior, which will include a wood-burning stove, oak flooring, a fully-fitted kitchen and bathroom and locally-sourced artisan crockery. Laverock Law Cottages and Glamping has won a range of national and regional awards for its commitment to sustainability, including golds in Visit England’s Sustainable Tourism Awards, the North East England Tourism Awards and the Northumberland Tourism Awards.
The cottages, which are powered by renewable electricity, all have low carbon heating and hot water systems, while the wider site offers wildlife habitats, wilding areas and electric vehicle charging points, with bikes available to borrow to minimise car journeys in the local area. Joinery firm Northumbrian Woodworks in Rothbury was commissioned to build the treehouse structure, which will be available to book via the Airbnb and Canopy & Stars websites, as well as directly from the owners, from mid-September.
Dave Harris-Jones said: “There’s nothing in Northumberland like our new treehouse and we’re now putting the finishing touches to what’s going to be a wonderful addition to what we offer our visitors.
Fashion entrepreneur Rachel Cornick has launched an online clothing rental site to encourage a greener approach to fashion.
Ms Cornick, from Jesmond, Newcastle, has set up Cloan – a platform combining fashion rental with the power of social media, offering consumers the ability to ‘loan’ influencers’ wardrobes. Ms Cornick, who is also the founder of social media-based talent agency Varg Talent, has received support from advisors at Robson Laidler who helped her to secure funding from the Business Enterprise Fund to generate more exposure for the start up.
The rental platform carries accessories from designers including Burberry, Chloe, Loewe, Miu Miu and Prada, alongside clothing from labels such as Joseph, Toteme, Frankie Shop, Rejina Pyo, Ghost, Rotate, Kitri, Sandro, Rixo, Stine Goya and Shrimps. She said: “I was seeing a shift in the way we consume fashion and at the same time witnessing first-hand the rapid rise of influencer marketing so merging the two felt like the natural next step.
A North East council has pledged to invest in a town's shopping centre after snapping up the complex in a multimillion-pound deal.
The Newgate Centre in Bishop Auckland, which has 13 retailers, has been acquired by Durham County Council in a £3.31m deal, which it hopes will trigger further private investment in the town. The authority says it is already in discussions with retail and leisure companies regarding opportunities within the centre, while also pledging investment to the centre's interior and exterior.
The move follows the council securing £19.9m of Government funding for Bishop Auckland town centre through the Future High Streets Fund, with cash earmarked for projects including a new bus station and additional car parking, as well as a scheme to bring vacant properties back into use. A further £33.2m has also been pledged through the Stronger Towns Fund, with the funding allocated to a range of regeneration projects across the town. The hope is to attract an additional 1.5 million visitors to Bishop Auckland each year, substantially boosting the county’s visitor economy by £240m and creating almost 4,000 jobs.
A Sunderland building that was home to HMRC for a 25 years has been sold and revamped to transform it into modern offices.
North West-based commercial property investors Kingscrown Group have acquired the 36,000 sqft Waterside House from previous owners Topland Group, investing £2.5m to completely remodel and refit the building for hybrid working. Kingscrown Group specialise in breathing new life into commercial buildings and own a diverse portfolio of high quality residential and commercial properties across the North, including a number of developments on Teesside.
Now completed, Knight Frank and Connect Property have been appointed as joint agents for the building, based at Sunderland Enterprise Park with views of the River Wear. Neighbouring office occupiers include Berghaus, TSB, Sunderland NHS and Sunderland City Council, Avant Homes and Taylor Wimpey.
The new interior has been designed for a post-pandemic business world and includes office suites, meeting rooms and break-out spaces and kitchen areas to suit a variety of different sized businesses.
A Tyneside software company has secured a deal with a Japanese port operator.
Wallsend-based Notify Technology has developed a mobile-first software platform allowing clients to deliver improvements to their safety, wellbeing and sustainability culture and compliance. The firm has now extended its global reach after being appointed by Singapore’s Jurong Port (JP) Pte Ltd, a world-class multipurpose port operator serving Singapore’s premier gateway for general and bulk cargo.
The organisation will support JP in the implementation of a “near miss reporting” application, to improve safety for port users and employees. Notify technology is recognised as a leader in the digital management of health and safety across a range of business sectors.
