Gary's Blog
The Blog below is intended to be a light hearted look at the goings on at NRG Print and Design from December 1995 to date (NRG Digital Ltd from June 2007 to date). On it I have detailed some of the people I have worked for / worked with and trained during this time. As well as that I have made a note of the experiences the business has had ...some enjoyable...some not so. I have also detailed some outside of work stuff (but not too much!) of the people who have worked here / or are still working here. I can't say "I wouldn't change a thing" ..because I would !! but not too much.
April 27th 2009
Below we have see the 'Startasite Handover' between our head developer Marc (left) and our interim developer Gavin (on the right) . Marc who has been with us nearly four years is leaving having completed his degree. After competing our in house content management system 'Startasite' Marc is heading for Orange the telecoms giant to start a new position as a lead developer building the companies new websites in the Zend framework. We wish Marc every success and thank him for the brilliant work and dedication he has given in his time at NRG. Gavin will be carrying out our web development support while we recruit a replacement for Marc.
April 25th 2009
Just been reading up on 'Digital Britain' report
February 4th 2009
Honours even in the latest Tyne - Wear derby - never mind - one day we'll do the double over the Mags - maybe in my lifetime even.
January 1st 2009
Happy New Year!!!
Saturday 13th December 2008
"I gotta get me one of these!!" . The new Land Rover LRX with iphone pouch.
Saturday 6th December 2008
Startasite version 3 almost ready !!! Present at a preview presentation last Saturday were Judith, Gary, Marc, Mike and Phil. Startasite will be unveiled on Monday 22nd December , room 206 at SPG , at our special Xmas get together with above and also due to pop in Tinkerbell and Gavin (Redup UK).
Wednesday 12th November 2008
Just busy developing new member of staff Michael Sharp's web building skills. With the help Marc and myself Mike is busy giving the City Taxis website a fresh makeover.
www.citytaxis-sunderland.co.uk
Built in our very own 'Startasite' web building application of course!
Thursday 20th March 2008
Above: "Purvy" the famous St Peters Gate penguin. "Purvy" says ..."Are you up for it?"!
....meanwhile over in Canada the 'Sunderland Branch Ottawa Senators Fan Club' watch the Senators beat the St Louis Blues 3-2 on Thursday night.at the ScotiaBank arena.....
Tuesday 18th March 2008
Below works starts on advertising campaign for TD Performance...Gary and Claire working on this one...
Thursday 13th March 2008
Gary trip to the Shildon Railway Museum, County Durham.
Below is Owen Murray M.B.E who we are currently carrying out a lot of marketing work for at present -- check out the site we are developing for Owen at www.suresafe.net . It's one of the plus sides of the web development work we do here at NRG Digital that we get to meet various customers who do some quite interesting work, and Owen is no exceptation. His business is growing rapidly and it has been quite an eye opener seeing first hand the type of training he can give people who may confront potentially violent situations.
Monday 18th February 2008
Above photos are of my former business partner at NRG Print and Design (later to branch out as Footprint) Graeme Lamb. Graeme is currently in Ottawa, Canada doing some print work for the Canadians.
Sunday 10th February 2008
The new sign should be arriving for St Peters Gate soon, (see our design further down the blog)..only trouble is the framework has blown away! Never mind it got it's brief momment of fame on YouTube (2minutes 50 seconds into) on the spoof Danny Dyer documentary 'Real Football Factories - Sunderland'
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OBnW-hCS1RM&feature=related
Wednesday 6th February 2008
Amy (above) joins us on a month's work trial. Amy joins us after completing a BA Hons in Graphic Design, she hails originally from Nuneaton, Warwickshire.
January 23rd 2008
We are pleased to welcome a new member to our team here at NRG Digital. David Warden joins us as Training and Development Officer, he brings over 40 years experience in various forms of visual communication. Dave has worked with major blue chip companies such as Sage, Assa Training and Learning and Drager Safety.
Dave will helping us to develop a user guide for use with 'Starter Site'.
Blog - New for 2008!
January 2008
Above view from NRG Digital's window pre-Xmas 07.
We welcome two new members to our team for the new year,Claire Fryatt and Tristan Weissmann.
Claire is an experienced Graphic Designer whilst Tristan brings his ten years of web development experience to NRG.
Claire is the latest in a long line of graduates from nearby St. Peters campus. Claire holds a First Class Hons Degree in Graphic Communication and Design which she gained in 2005 as well as a HND in Photography and Digital Imaging.
NRG Digital Ltd is proud of over a decade of developing young people in the graphics arts industry - for list of team members (but not fully concise) over the past few years click on the link below.
Previous team members @ NRG
Tristan Weissmann (below) takes over Web Development duties from Tom Jolly (who moves on to Flash Development at News International (Tombola))
Tristan takes over from Tom in our website developer role . some of Tristans sites before joining NRG include......
www.newcastlebeats.com
If you are interested in coming to work at (or with) us at NRG we are always on the look out for new recruits to strengthen our side.
We have various roles within our company that you may feel you have suitable experience (or would like to gain maybe more experience in).
We are situated in a modern building, St Peters Gate which is part of the University of Sunderland's Science Park. Our office enjoys an enviable river view and we are also close to Sunderland city centre, National Glass Centre and easy access to St Peters metro station.
We have some clearly defined roles here at NRG .....
if you any of the below posts interest you please get in touch - email us your c.v. and where applicable a PDF of samples of your portfolio.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES...........
GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR PRINT AND WEB
You will have a minimum of 1 years experience in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop / Illustrator or InDesign). You will be able to work in a fast moving environment dealing with customers and tight deadlines. You will have to be confident and have an ability to take the 'rough' with the 'smooth'. You will be aware of modern standards for producing graphics for print as well as graphics for web. At NRG we work to the most up to date criteria when preparing files for production. Although admittedly we are on a small scale - we have access to a multi million pound 'virtual factory' for our print jobs. Our print work is produced both locally and nationally (UK) and internationally (Germany). We always have positions available for those who may wish to be flexible with their working hours ....perhaps you are studying at nearby St Peters Campus??? ..or wish to work around family (or other work) commitments??? Rate of pay starts at £6.50 / £7 per hour for junior members -- rising to £8/£9/£10 per hour for more experienced or graduate workers. Pay rises to £12.50+ per hour for certain projects.We also work in Macromedia Freehand (but prefer those who have migrated to Adobe CS). We work with both MAC and PC (although MAC experience would be an advantage). Also having your own laptop is not essential but would be a benefit.
If you have design for print experience and would like to learn more about designing for the web a position at NRG may be just hold the key to unlock the door to a change in career direction.
We have developed our own website building application 'Starter Site' which enables those with Photoshop or Illustrator/Freehand experience to build websites.
WEB DEVELOPER / PROGRAMMER
A lot of the above description applies to this role also. But this role is primarily to assist the designer with 'back end' programming and support. You will be experienced in website hosting using the likes of Cpanel and Web Host Manager. You will be able to demonstrate programming skills in the PHP and have knowledge of mySQL database's. You will have worked in a team environment working on web building projects alongside designers using CSS. Pay starts from £10 per hour. If you are interested in learning about our 'Starter Site' web site building application this may be a career move that may develop your existing skills.
The other business's and organisations within St Peters Gate are primarily in areas such as multimedia or digital. Our next door neighbours on the top floor here are Codeworks Connect.
Friday 21st December 2007
We wish Rachael well in her new job working as 'Project Handler' at Blue River Design Agency in Newcastle. Many thanks to Rachael for her invaluable work at NRG. Good Luck!
Rachael spent just under 5 years at NRG, 6 months of which in the role of company director. Fluent in Freehand. More lately concentrating on helping clients 'Author' their internet websites. Her latest project was the new Clentec 6 page A4 brochure. A job well done !
Thursday 20th September 2007
Trip out for NRG (Gary Wilkie, Rachael Greenwell, Tom Jolly and Richie Carter)
to the Codeworks Connect Digital Film 2.0 event at Sage. Gateshead.
http://tinyurl.com/3rgn9n
Click on the above link to view the Sky News report from the Thinking Digital conference 2008
September 2007
NRG Digital Ltd. With Directors Gary Wilkie and Rachael Greenwell - a fresh start with new business based at St Peters Gate. Print work sub contracted rather than produced 'in house'. NRG Digital Ltd. begins to concentrate on website design for its customers.
August 2007 ---
NRG Print and Design ends print production at Pennywell. After 10 years at Pennywell the business is wound up.
July 2007
Below movie is from Gary's trip to Chester-le-Street to see England take on West Indies in a one day cricket international.
July 2007
Marc Easen 'completed' our own re-useable content management system 'Startersite' (later to become Startasite). 'Startasite' was a team effort really, Marc writing much of the code in PHP and utilising mySQL databases. 'Startasite' was project managed by Gary but involved almost everyone who worked at NRG during 2006/2007/2008 including Marc (see pic below) and Tom Jolly on the development side and Rachael Greenwell /Sinead Olney / Gavin Blowman and Richie Carter on the design side. You can learn more about 'Startasite' by visiting (URL to follow soon - June 08).
Above Marc Easen who spent 2 years at NRG Print and Design working as our resident Web Developer. Project managed by Gary and working closely with designers Rachael and Sinead, helped build many of the websites you can view in our web directory section of this website. Marc also worked closely with Gary to develop 'Startasite' (see above) and our own internal production system 'Superlist'. Marc left NRG in 2007 to do a year at the Dupont plant in Scotland but he will return to work with us in September (08) whilst studying as year four of his degree at the University of Teesside.
June 2007
After two years of trying to escape!! ...finally!!
....from the 'Gates from Hell'....
to...
the 'Gates from Heaven(?!)'
Above NRG Digital's design for new signage at our new home. The thinking behind this (if it needs explaining) is the cryptic symbolism in the name (St Peters) and St Peters association with the 'pearly gates' to heaven. In this case once you see the sign you know you are 'one step from business heaven'. As I said to Julia McFarlane who is Business Development Manager at SPG - 'you can put a positive spin on anything'.
That's our job at NRG Digital - if you can come up with creativity like this - please get in touch - we would love to hear from you.
Anybody who needs directions to our new place click on.......
http://www.nrgdigital.net/FindUs/
August 2007
Below is Sinead Olney who served NRG well having worked for us for over a year. Sinead came to us after completing a Graphic Design degree and gained valuable experience whilst working here. Sinead was one of the better more professional designers to work here over the years (the graphic content of this site nrgdigital.net was in the main part designed by Sinead) and we wish her well.
May 2007 - The Gates From Hell!
You Vill Not Enter!!! Nein!! Verbotten!!
How to encourage enterprise in Sunderland....NRG's old home at Pennywell
(Stalag 13 , sorry Unit 13 - unlucky for some)
(in backround to the right of picture behind gates)
April 2007
My 'toy' for a couple of months courtesy of Enterprise rent-a-car.....
Now if they could make a four wheel drive this fast , this sexy and with a dashboard like this ......!!!!!
I'd buy me one!!
Easter 2007
NRG has always been strongly associated with the dance / rave scene in the North East of England (see below (early years 96/97)) here I am backstage at good friend DJ Scott's Definition of Dance (Newcastle Carling Academy) with the very lovely Karen Danzig.
http://www.karendanzig.com/
"Purvy" says: 'Chance'd be a fine thing!'
Easter 2007 - The Great Escape (not!)
In a bid to escape the 'Gates From Hell!' The Unit that never was.....
Our move to the N.E. Business and Innovation Centre falls thru (!!???)
Providence ???....
Thanx anyway Paul.
Feb 2007 -- For those of you who have never seen the front end of a printing press here it is (not very glamourous I know) but here is NRG's (Footprint's) Heidleberg GTO 52 circa Feb '07.
2006
From October 2006 Gary takes over the running of Footprint North East at the request of Graeme Lamb. Graeme is set to start a contract in Malaysia the following summer. Gary manages the staff of Footprint including Tony Kitson below, who produced four colour printing on our Heidleberg GTO 52 two colour press.
Above - Gavin Blowman - NRG's first true graphic designer -- Gavin spent 2 years at NRG --- Bringing a cosmopolitan feal to NRG Gavin originated from Hull and completed a degree at nearby St Peters Campus. Gavin famously travelled the US coast to coast (twice) as well as trips to SE Asia and Australia. Rachael was suitably impressed!
August 2006 ---
NRG's resident Adobe Photoshop expert Charlotte Priestley leaves for a new life in Sydney, Australia !!! As a pole dancer at Polestars lapdancing club!!
Charlotte is the one in the middle in this pic of her on Bondai Beach!!....
Never let it be said people dont leave NRG to go on to better things!!!
Charlotte Priestley @ NRG summer 2006..
above photo features 'girls' Rachael (foreground) and Charlotte (backround) at NRG / Pennywell July 2006
2005
Christmas 2005..
'Be Good To Yourself'
Above one of our highest profile jobs to date - Sainsburys 'Be Good To Yourself' range of food packaging artwork amendements for Integrated Packaging. Which everyone got involved in at some stage - even Gary(!) who came out of retirement ...to work in Illustrator(!?!)
NRG / Footprint - Joint Christmas party Dec 2005 -
Golden Lion, South Hylton, Sunderland
Rachael before alcohol.....
Present at above photo..
on the left.. starting at the back...
Peter Trustee (Footprint)
Jackpot John (Footprint)
Graeme Lamb (Footprint - Owner / Manager)
Gavin Blowman (NRG - Graphic Designer / Multimedia)
Marc Easen (NRG - Web Developer)
on the right hand side of picture --- starting at the back..
Matt Brantingham (Footprint - Mac Operator)
Liam Brenann (NRG - Mac Operator)
Gary Wilkie (NRG - Owner / Manager)
Rachael Greenwell (NRG - Graphic Designer)
Present at above photo..
on the left.. starting at the back...
Peter Trustee (Footprint)
Jackpot John (Footprint)
Graeme Lamb (Footprint - Owner / Manager)
Gavin Blowman (NRG - Graphic Designer / Multimedia)
Marc Easen (NRG - Web Developer)
on the right hand side of picture --- starting at the back..
Tony Kitson (Printer / Machine minder GTO 52)
Matt Brantingham (Footprint - Mac Operator)
Liam Brenann (NRG - Mac Operator)
Gary Wilkie (NRG - Owner / Manager)
Rachael Greenwell (Graphic Designer)
September 2005
NRG Print and Design takes delivery of a brand new Konica Minolta Digital Press. Here is Rachael at the machine in the autumn of 2005. The new machine was NRG's first venture in to short run full colour digital printing and meant the days were gone of expensive litho machine set ups for relatively small quantities.
From a weeks work experience coming from Houghton 'Kepier' School...
Toon ...Toon ...Black and white army....Richie Carter (poor Richie)
2004
Rachael's first 'proper' computer -- the eMac .....
Gav starts his two year stint at NRG ..... during which he globe trotted between Pennywell and Denver, Colorado, USA. Gavin later went on to found Chooba.(!) Gavin was instrumental in Rachael's Photoshop/ Website training. As well as advising on NRG's move to St. Peters Gate. All told, Gavin had a major impact on NRG's fortunes. Many thanx.
Below --proving remote working can work NRG's second web developer and friend of Gavin Blowman (above) James Robinson --- (with somebody famous off Neighbours whilst in Australia with Gavin) - James never actually worked at 'NRG' but he did --(if you know what I mean) (no ????-- remote working - it means you work remote -- right?)
Below......
"Look for your own Fr@@~~~in work ticket!!"
Daz at NRG / Pennywell 2004
The Heidleberg GTO 52 press @ 67 million impressions. @ NRG autumn of 2004.....
June 2004
Below is footage from Gary's trip to the other Stadium of Light, Benfica's ground in Lisbon, Portugal for the Euro 2004 clash between England and Croatia -- England won 4-2 to go thru into the quarter finals and Gary returned back to work at NRG bleary eyed having had no sleep for 3 days.
2003
Ian Passmore Easter 2003.......
During the 12 month period between March 2003 and April 2004 Gary project managed the building of 'Superticket' with Ian. Ian had completed a degree in Computer Programming / Science at the University of Sunderland and worked well with Gary to develop and build our own in house job tracking and accounting software. 'Superticket' also featured a website module which enabled us to keep track record of website domain name renewals and monthly standing order payments. It is still used to this day.
Above screenshots from 'Superticket' -- developed by NRG (Gary Wilkie and Ian Passmore) our very own job tracking and database accounting system. 'Superticket' was built over a 12 month period using Microsoft Excel and Visual Basic to make use of some powerful macros. It still works well for us (bug free!) to this day.
To find out more about 'Superticket' visit...
www.superticket.co.uk
2003
Below movie features Darren Dunn operating NRG's single colour press at unit 13 in 2003 -- later in film we see a young Rachael Greenwell !
Ahead of his time ....NRG's 2nd web developer (Kelvyn Ski (part time)) being the first) Darren Williams of 'Ultimate Buzz' fame ...
Young Darren left a secure job at E.D.S. to blaze the trail in web development very early on at NRG ....he was the first to make commercial sense of web servers / domains at a time when Gary was struggling to get to grips with the new frontier that was web design. During this time NRG occupied Units 13 and 14 as well as Unit 21 at PCB.
Gary's Apple Mac set up Unit 13 around about this time..
(note how dated a Performa looks these days!!!)
eeeh god ....loook at those Zip discs !!! (aaargh - Sonic the Hedgehog!!)
2002
Below photo home for ten years...NRG's head office Unit 13, Pennywell Community Business Centre...
Below photo features £4k print down frame (as bought by Graeme for £50 quid)
that's Graeme 'Arthur Daley' Lamb ....purchased at auction after Mayfair Printers went into liquidation.
2001
NRG's 'famous' deskpad /calendars in Graeme's guillotine in 2001
2000
Litho Printing in the west end of Sunderland just after the millenium.....
Above is an 'aerial' shot of Graeme's Heidleberg GTO 52 and Gary's AB Dick 9810
The 2 colour Heidleberg printing press was bought by Graeme Lamb (later to become Footprint North East) next to Gary Wilkie's single colour press AB Dick9810
The GTO was bought when former Litho Manager of Vedrapack Ltd, Dave Walker wound up his business 'Fingerprint' and Graeme Lamb purchased the above press from Dave Walker --- Gary bought the single colour AB Dick directly from new from the manufacturer. (After having serveral large pints in the nearby ' Wavendon' public house -- and subsequently filling in appropriate finance forms - ha!)
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