NEWS
ON THE MOVE
Tech and digital training firm aims to create 50 new jobs after £ 1m expansion
An apprenticeships provider which specialises in the tech and digital sectors is aiming to create at least 50 new jobs after relocating to a new £ 1m head office .
Baltic Apprenticeships has completed the purchase of Pioneer House , at Pioneer Court Business Park in Darlington , to create a central hub for its growing team .
The firm had been based across four locations on Aycliffe Business Park , but has made the move to its new 17,500 sq ft facility to accommodate ambitious growth plans .
With the support of a £ 435,000 Large Capital Grant from the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority , Baltic Apprenticeships completed the purchase of Pioneer House in June and is now fully operational at its impressive new , three-storey hub .
The firm ’ s managing director Tony Hobbs said : “ Due to rapid growth across all our departments , we knew we had to make the investment of a central hub to allow for sustainable expansion .
“ Operating across four buildings was
FAMILY FIRM TARGETS GROWTH WITH SITE RELOCATION
A
family-run business which successfully diversified during the coronavirus pandemic is creating 10 new jobs as it continues to grow .
AAA Caring Caretaker , which is known as Caring Caretaker , was founded by CEO Richard H Tucker MBE in 2015 to support an existing property company he was already running .
Since then , the Aycliffe business has grown rapidly and is now in the process of relocating to a 0.8 acre site at Bowburn North Industrial Estate in County Durham , which will enable the company to create 10 new jobs and further diversify into new markets .
Richard said : “ We got to the point where we ’ d outgrown our existing premises in Newton Aycliffe and needed to find alternative space which would enable us to expand our team and create our own storage and warehousing facilities which can
Baltic Apprenticeships managing director Tony Hobbs ( right ) with ( left to right ) Joanna Murphy , Ian Barrett , John Parkin and Laura Jackson .
impacting our ability to coach new employees and build a collaborative culture .
“ This move into our new flagship HQ will allow us to create more job opportunities across the Tees Valley and grow our workforce further , as this is a key geographical location and opens a brand new talent pool .”
Baltic Apprenticeships is a national apprenticeship training provider focused solely on developing tech and digital skills , with its apprenticeship programmes covering data , software development , IT and digital marketing .
The company launched in a Portakabin in Hartlepool in 2006 and has since grown to employ a team of 256 .
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said : “ It is brilliant to see Baltic Apprenticeships move into a bigger premises in our region and even better that the move is helping them create so many new jobs .
“ It ’ s proof that giving post-Covid support to our brilliant local businesses is the right thing to do , to help meet their growth ambitions and boost our economy .”
accommodate the products and equipment we use and supply to clients .”
The company , which employs 41 people including 17 ex-armed forces personnel , nine of which have unseen disabilities , is now in the process of fitting out the new site in Bowburn and hopes to move in by the end of the summer .
Caring Caretaker , which also employs Richard ’ s daughter Alison Stephenson as company MD and son-in-law Robert , has successfully tapped into Business Durham support programmes , including the Routes to Contract Success , and the County Durham Growth Fund , which has awarded the company a grant as part of the move to larger premises .
BUSINESS BRIEFS
£ 2.1M EV FUNDING Drivers in Durham will have better access to electric vehicle chargepoints , after being awarded £ 2.1m through a new pilot backed by £ 20m of government and industry funding announced .
Through the innovative Local EV Infrastructure ( LEVI ) pilot scheme , Durham Council and industry will work together to create new , commercial EV charging infrastructure for residents , from on-street chargepoints to larger petrol stationstyle charging hubs .
The rollout supports the government ’ s drive to encourage more motorists to go electric , which can save drivers money on fuel and running costs , and improve air quality as the country moves towards net zero .
FIRST DABS County Durham ’ s most promising start-ups are set to gain an unparalleled opportunity to receive first-hand support and advice from a host of successful business owners and entrepreneurs from across the region at the third annual Durham Ambitious Business Start-ups ( DABS ) Festival of Enterprise , sponsored by Swinburne Maddison .
Taking place on Thursday , October 13 , at the Radisson Blu Hotel , Durham , the event will be hosted by broadcast journalist and presenter Charlie Charlton and will bring together likeminded people from across the region , offering entrepreneurial inspiration from leading industry experts and a range of exciting keynote speakers .
AYCLIFFE BUSINESS Aycliffe Business will mark its 10th anniversary with a special issue in November – the last edition of 2022 .
We ’ re already working on issue # 60 of the magazine for Aycliffe Business Park , which will include a special feature looking back on the last 10 years .
The booking deadline is 5pm on Friday , October 28 .
To book space , call Martin Walker on 01325 728024 or email martin @ aycliffetoday . co . uk .
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 11