NEWS
LITTER- PICKERS
Aycliffe business leaders back Spring Clean campaign
A
group of business leaders are encouraging their neighbouring companies to support a campaign which will help clean up the region ’ s biggest business park .
Seven Aycliffe Business Park Community ( ABPC ) board members supported Durham County Council ’ s big spring clean , which ran in April .
They joined the council ’ s neighbourhood protection manager Ian Hoult on a litterpicking session on Aycliffe Business Park .
Several large refuse bags full of waste were collected from a litter-blighted area along Whinbank Road on Aycliffe Business Park . The session was organised by ABPC board member Thomas Prentice , business development manager at Stiller Warehousing and Distribution .
He said : “ I ’ ve always been passionate about our local environment and ever since I joined the Aycliffe board last August , I ’ ve been looking for ways of how to improve the look of the business park .
“ Litter is an obvious challenge and it ’ s something we , as a board , think should be tackled head on .
Pictured ( left to right ): Durham County Council ’ s neighbourhood protection manager Ian Hoult ( back ) with some of the Aycliffe Business Park Community board ( left to right ) Lee Harris , Sarah Slaven , Pamela Petty , Martin Walker , Rachel Townsend-Green , Kerina Clark and Thomas Prentice . Pic by Stuart Boulton .
“ There are other organisations doing some great things across the business park , in particular Nev Jones and the town-wide Keep Aycliffe Tidy campaign .
“ But we want to encourage other businesses to get involved as well . If every company on the business park tidied up the immediate areas around their premises it would make a huge difference .”
Thomas was joined by other ABPC board members Kerina Clark , Lee Harris , Sarah Slaven , Pamela Petty , Martin Walker and Rachel Townsend-Green .
Ian Hoult added : “ It was fantastic to see the Aycliffe Business Park Community board leading by example here and getting involved .
“ The Civic Pride team can help support any volunteer litter picks by loaning equipment , health and safety guidance and removal of your collected litter .
“ Businesses can contact us if they want to get involved .”
Any businesses or organisations interested in organising their own litter picks can call 03000 260000 , email litterfreedurham @ durham . gov . uk or visit durham . gov / bigspringclean .
BUSINESS BRIEFS
FUTURE BUSINESS MAGNATES A competition for enterprising young minds is challenging pupils from County Durham secondary schools to turn their problem-solving skills into a profitable business .
Future Business Magnates , now in its 17th year , will be online for the first time and will see teams of Year 8 students work together with local businesses to create , develop and present their business ideas .
For more information on how your school or business can get involved , please visit www . durhamstartups . co . uk / future-business-magnates /.
SPACE LEADERSHIP The North East Space Leadership Group has been newly formed to shape the vision , mission and strategy for the growing space sector in the region .
Made up of a diverse range of stakeholders , from senior figures within the industry to academics , public sector and government representatives , the group will support the development of the space cluster in the region with a focus on nurturing business growth and employment opportunities .
It has been set up to provide the strategic lead for the North-East in developing the region ’ s capabilities within the UK and global space industry .
UK CITY OF CULTURE 2025 JUDGES VISIT REGION
Ambitious plans to drive growth , spark creativity and celebrate the extraordinary people and places of County Durham was showcased to the UK City of Culture 2025 judging panel .
An exciting and immersive timetable of activities was arranged for the judges ’ eagerly anticipated visit , which follows the shortlisting of Durham ’ s countywide bid in March .
The Durham 2025 campaign is being driven by Durham County Council , Durham University and Culture Durham , a partnership of more than 20 cultural organisations from across the county .
Cllr Amanda Hopgood , leader of Durham County Council , said : “ Durham is such a diverse county and , while it ’ s impossible to
Judges visit New Durham Working Men ’ s Club alongside representatives from the Durham 2025 campaign and Sir Phil Redmond .
show the judges everything during their visit , we really want to give them a flavour of the variety that exists here .
“ It ’ s also important for us that the judges met the people who will benefit if County Durham is named UK City of Culture 2025 .”
In March , County Durham was one of just four locations to make it to the shortlist . The winner is due to be announced later this month .
If County Durham secures the title , it would bring colossal social and economic benefits to the entire region , including thousands of jobs .
HELP FROM SAM A firm of County Durham engineers has stripped hours from its manufacturing times and is planning to venture into new markets , thanks to an elite team of experts .
Shildon-based Bignall Group is saving hundreds of manhours , investing in new machinery and already planning the second phase of its project working with a team of specialists from the Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing ( SAM ) Project .
AYCLIFFE BUSINESS Aycliffe Business are working on issue # 57 , due out in June / July . The booking deadline is 5pm on Friday , June 10 . To book space , call Martin Walker on 01325 728024 or email martin @ aycliffetoday . co . uk .
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 5