Member Article

The eaga Trust helps music graduate hit the right note

A NORTH East graduate hopes to hit the right note with music lovers – after a Trust set up by his former employer gave him some help.

Aaron Lee Smiles, 29, from Gateshead, left his job to set up his own computer software development company.

Now, with help from the eaga Trust, he has created an audio visual application aimed at those working within the media and music industries.

Aaron, who has a degree in music and a Masters in digital media, joined Eaga as a customer service advisor in 2008, leaving in 2012 to set up Sinetic.

“I knew that the eaga Trust offered help to former employees who wanted to learn a new skill, so I decided to contact them,” said Aaron, “and, along with a great deal of support and advice, they gave me a business loan to help towards our marketing costs.”

Aaron has developed his application with business partner Roman Dumaine and hopes to have a prototype within the next six months.

“It will enable people to create their own audio visual content in a 3D virtual reality environment,” he said. “They will be able to make music and physically move the sounds around their environment.”

Almost 7500 men and women in the UK, India and Canada, who worked for North East-based Eaga at any time prior to its sale to Carillion in 2011, can register to join the eaga Trust and access business loans, business support, advice and even help with business start-up costs. So far over half have come forward and the eaga Trust would like to hear from the rest.

Clare Mattison, an Ambassador at the eaga Trust said: “Aaron is an entrepreneur in the truest sense of the word.

“We are delighted to have been able to help him fulfil an ambition and produce something that is at the forefront of technology and will bring a lot of pleasure to a lot of people.

“We hope that he and others like him grow their businesses successfully and do so in a way which recognises employees as partners in the business, just as Eaga did.”

Anyone who thinks they may be eligible for Trust membership and access £1000 available under the skill-builder fund, get help starting their own business or use the other employment support initiatives, should register their membership on The eaga Trust website www.eagatrust.com, where they will be asked to provide details of their past employment at Eaga.

Further information about the eaga Trust can be obtained via the website www.eagatrust.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by HFPR .