Member Article

SkillsBridge announces record results

North East businesses have helped the region’s charities to the tune of more than £500,000 in the past six months, by offering their skills and experience for free.

Companies, such as Greggs, Eversheds, Benfield Motors, Home Group, Carillion and EDF Energy, are among 70 in the region who have signed up to a pioneering, region-wide project, hailed by the Government as a model of best practice.

Newcastle-based SkillsBridge matches volunteers from both private and public sector companies with charities and social enterprises in need of expert guidance and advice.

And, in the past year alone, it has put more than 100 charities in touch with 60 business experts, who have provided them with around 2000 hours of free support, on issues ranging from human resources and book keeping to creating a business plan and planning a strategy for growth.

“The value of their consultancy, in terms of the savings made to charities and the new income they’ve generated as a result, is truly remarkable,” said SkillsBridge Chief Executive Andrew White, “and, as we are still quantifying the project, that figure may be far higher.”

Newcastle law firm Muckle LLP is one of the firms which signed up to the project and has recently been working with Trimdon Station Community Centre, a former miners’ welfare centre, at County Durham.

“The building used to belong to Durham County Council and, under the terms of the asset transfer, we had to negotiate a new lease,” said centre development manager Derek Bradley. “We also needed to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and, quite frankly, we needed some help.”

The centre contacted SkillsBridge, which immediately put them in touch with Muckle LLP Associate Joanne Davison. “She has been marvellous,” said Derek. “As well as providing help where we needed it she has also been able to flag up issues we didn’t know we needed – and that’s been invaluable.”

“As a company we are committed to helping small community groups and organisations, like Trimdon Station Community Centre, which wouldn’t normally be able to afford or access legal advice,” said Joanne.

“SkillsBridge facilitates that in a very organised and efficient way so that the help that is offered is directed to where it’s most needed.”

“The support we’ve had from North East businesses has been overwhelming,” said Andrew White. “The service we provide sounds like common sense but there was no-one providing it.

“We knew that if we could get the right people on board this initiative could have real and lasting benefit across the region – and we’ve been proved right.”

SkillsBridge is now calling on more companies, from small consultancies to PLCs to get involved with the project, either by offering financial support or by volunteering to share their skills.

To find out more about SkillsBridge and the service it provides, ring 0191 275 5059 or email Andrew@skills-bridge.org or Chris@skills-bridge.org.

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