NEWS
BUSINESS BRIEFS
ACADEMY BOOST
Gestamp sees increase in commercial training requests
The Gestamp Training and Wellbeing Academy saw external demand for its specialist welding training increase by 200 per cent in the first quarter of the year , compared with figures for the whole of 2021 .
Situated adjacent to Gestamp ’ s manufacturing facility in its own 4,200 sq ft purpose-built space , the Training and Wellbeing Academy has been supporting the development of Gestamp employees since 2016 and is also now working with local employers to upskill and reskill their workforces .
In the first three months of 2022 , the academy saw an increase in training bookings from a range of companies , including an automotive supplier , a training company and a warehousing and distribution facility , for its specialist MIG and TIG welding .
Paul James , head of Gestamp ’ s academy , said : “ It ’ s fantastic to see the results from the last few months and to have had the opportunity to work with such a diverse range of employers . We ’ re extremely privileged to be able to support local companies with the specialist training their teams require .
“ Too often ‘ off-the-shelf ’ welding and robotics training is very rigid and can mean that companies are getting too much , too little or none of the level of training they need .
“ That is why we take the time to talk to employers , visit their facilities and apply Gestamp ’ s decades of experience to deliver training programmes that will address their needs .
“ This approach has proved very successful and it ’ s the method we use at Gestamp , where we believe in People the Architects of Success .”
The Gestamp Academy features specialist welding bays , a tooling facility , an extensive robotics maintenance and training area as well as classrooms and an auditorium .
AYCLIFFE DEAF-LED CHARITY RECEIVES £ 3,000
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deaf-led charity based in Newton Aycliffe , Rare Rockets , is the most recent beneficiary of the Open North Foundation ( ONF ), having received £ 3,000 , the largest grant awarded to date by the not-for-profit organisation , to help boost its website and marketing efforts .
Located in Aycliffe Business Park , the charity was established in 2021 in response to the devastation caused to the deaf community during the pandemic .
Shortlisted in the Newcomer of the Year Category at the 2022 Make Your Mark Awards , Rare Rockets has seen huge interest in its services and , as a result , has increased its employees from five in April 2022 , to its current 20 .
CEO of Rare Rockets , Craig Jones , is deaf and leads a team of a mixture of deaf and hearing employees that work side by side within its three areas of expertise , BSL Interpreting , Sign Language Training and Personal Assistant support work .
Craig said : “ I would like to take the opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to all of the team at Open North Foundation . The grant will allow us to make life easier and less complicated for many within our deaf community .”
Richard Swart , chair , Open North Foundation , said : “ It is important to recognise not only the support provided by Rare Rockets to those that utilise its services , but also the significant growth of the charity , which has gone from five to 20 employees in a few months , meaning its contribution to the North-East economy is growing rapidly .”
WEB ACQUISITION A Darlington digital agency is continuing its growth with the acquisition of a Newton Aycliffe web design firm .
White Digital , a website development and digital marketing agency based in Darlington ’ s Grange Road , has taken over Design365 , which has bases on Aycliffe Business Park and in Gateshead .
The move will safeguard the future of Design365 and its four members of staff after the retirement of director Alan Foster and his business partner , and wife , Anne Foster .
ENTREPRENEURS PROGRAMME Young entrepreneurs have celebrated their achievements following the successful completion of a six-month business challenge .
Students from nine secondary schools across County Durham have taken part in the Future Business Magnates competition , run by Business Durham , the business support service of Durham County Council .
The competition , now in its 17th year , was run entirely online this year to ensure it could go ahead after being cancelled for the last two years due to Covid . Teams of Year 8 students worked to develop a business idea and complete a series of six business-related challenges .
CLUSTER LAUNCHED A number of North-East-based companies working in advanced material electronics have launched a cluster group at a national conference being held in the region .
The North East Advanced Material Electronics cluster group ( NEAME ) has been established to showcase the regional capability , which goes beyond conventional and high-volume compound semiconductors .
A cluster of companies in the North- East say they ’ re developing exciting new forms of semiconductor technologies and applications used in many everyday items - from sensors and imaging technologies for internet-connected household objects to satellite and mobile communications .
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 5