AINSLEY IS ONE STEP NEARER TO HIS MUSICAL THEATRE DREAM

Since he was a little boy, Trust member Gary’s Son Ainsley, had dreamed of performing, and, with the Trust’s help, that dream is a big step closer to becoming a reality.  When Ainsley was offered a place on the one-year, full-time Musical Theatre course the Trust stepped in with funding.  When we caught up with Gary, he was in London, helping Ainsley move into the house he will share with five friends while completing his studies.

“We’ve been overwhelmed with the help we’ve been given by the Trust,” said Gary.  “This course is Ainsley’s stepping stone to a three-year degree course and, hopefully, a career in musical theatre.  None of it would have happened without the Trust – we are unbelievably grateful.”

GARY IS FULFILLING DREAM OF BECOMING AN AUTHOR

Trust member Gary, is enrolling on a six-month creative writing course to further his dream of writing fiction.

“With any luck, by this time next year I will have published my first novel” 

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and the Skill-builder Plus funding will go a long way to paying the tuition Fees”

“It’s not often anyone – let alone a Trust set up by a former employer – offers you the money and the support to help you fulfil your dreams but that’s just what the eaga Trust does.  It’s incredibly generous and I can’t wait to get started”

SHONA'S ONLINE BUSINESS ADDS A TOUCH OF LUXURY ON A BUDGET!

Shona used Business Funding to help set up her online business MySBoutique selling scarves, bags, jewellery and clothing from her website. She sent us this pic of her newly set up dispatch centre, full of gorgeous things ready to go

NEW COMPANY TACKLES SUBSTANCE MISUSE

A North East based company has been created to provide employers with innovative & pragmatic approaches to managing substance & alcohol misuse in the workplace.

Hall & Angus was founded by Gordon Angus and Trevor Hall to fill a clear gap in the market. The company helps employers manage the specialist subject of substance misuse (both illegal and legal) including alcohol misuse.

The company provides a variety of CPD accredited training courses dedicated to helping companies mitigate the negative impact and risk exposure of substance and alcohol misuse and provides guidance and support to programmes that help managers & employees.

Co-founder Gordon Angus said “Substance and alcohol misuse is an issue across the whole of society, the risk increases when its brought into the workplace”

Gordon who formally worked for the energy efficiency company Eaga said, “Our programmes are developed to be both proactive and reactive. When writing policies, there are a variety of civil & criminal legislations to be considered as well as what is best for the company and their employees”.

Hall & Angus was formed with support from the eaga Trust, set up to help former Eaga employees, such as Gordon.

Trust Ambassador Shirley Blacklock said “We were very impressed with Gordon’s business idea; they have clearly found a gap in the market and will bring their expertise to bear in helping businesses develop and implement policies in this important area. We were delighted to help with an eaga Trust business loan”

The Trust offers its members a range of benefits including funding for training, business start-up loans and guidance for those planning to start their own, employee-owned businesses.

For further information about Hall & Angus, call 0191 432 4264 or visit www.hallandangus.com.

Anyone who thinks they may be eligible for Trust membership should register at www.eagatrust.com.

NEWCASTLE ITALIAN FOOD BUSINESS IS LAUNCHED WITH HELP FROM OWNER'S FORMER EMPLOYER

An aspiring businesswoman has won help from her former employer as she set up her first company.

Victoria Barone, from Newcastle , spent two years working in the renewables department at North East-based Eaga before leaving to pursue other ambitions.

Now, five years after she left the company, the eaga Trust – which was set up to support former employees – has given her the backing she needs to start The Sghetti Monster, a mobile unit selling Ms Barone’s wide range of pasta dishes.

“I’ve wanted to own my own business since my teens,” she said.

“The ideas went from Italian deli, to cafe, to bookshop cafe – I was always thinking about what and how, but was never in the financial position to do anything about it.”

However, because Ms Barone had worked for Eaga she was able to apply for help from the eaga Trust, which offers its members a range of benefits including business start-up loans, skill-builder training grants, self-improvement courses and guidance for those planning to launch their own businesses.

Through the trust, Ms Barone accessed a business funding loan.

She said: “I used it to buy lots of things. “It bought the trailer and enabled us to brand it, bought lots of the essential equipment, some stock, storage – I couldn’t have done it without the help from the Trust.”

The Sghetti Van is now becoming a familiar sight at Newcastle markets, events, business parks and fairs, selling freshly cooked pasta dishes with a variety of toppings to take-away customers.

Richard Marr, chief operating officer at the eaga Trust, said: “Victoria is exactly the sort of person the Trust was set up to support. “We’re delighted to have been able to help her get her new business off the ground and wish her every success for the future.”