NEWS
FISHING FOR SITES
Family-run Aycliffe firm reveals £ 3.5m expansion plans
The Fish Tank founders Ian and Penny Gordon have revealed ambitious expansion plans .
A
family run business that provides purpose-built swimming pools for families with babies and young children is splashing out with ambitious plans to expand its operations .
Newton Aycliffe-based The Fish Tank has appointed property specialist @ retail to acquire new sites across the North-East with target locations including Durham , Gateshead , Sunderland , Newcastle , Tees Valley and North Yorkshire .
The company is looking to transform sites into community-focused family friendly swimming pools , kitted out with specially designed changing rooms , coffee shops , interactive indoor play areas and sensory spaces and free car parking .
The move is part of a £ 3.5m investment plan by the company that could create up to 60 regional jobs in leisure and retail over the next three years .
Run by husband-and-wife team Paul and Penny Gordon , The Fish Tank opened for business in 2020 to provide swimming lessons , parties and open swim sessions for local families with babies and young children .
In 2022 , they won the Newcomer category at the Aycliffe Business Park ’ s Make Your Mark awards .
In the same year further reinvested to offer bespoke interactive indoor play and sensory rooms at their popular Aycliffe site .
Following the success of the Newton Aycliffe operation , the Gordons are currently investing further to build a region-wide business and brand to meet rising demand .
To assist in their growth , @ retail will identify and secure sites which can offer 5,600 sq . ft . of floorspace and capable of accommodating a swimming pool within a 22m x 24m footprint .
Paul Gordon said : “ Our warm pool has been designed with babies , toddlers and parents in mind while our sensory room provides a stimulating , safe environment for youngsters up to three years old to enjoy .
“ We also support businesses with our cafe stocking a range of locally sourced products .
“ With specific sector experience , @ retail are on board to help us develop our operations further .
“ Thanks to their expertise , a number of potential new locations are already under consideration , which is great news .”
UTC WELCOMES PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
UTC South Durham hosted more than 200 enthusiastic primary school students to explore the world of science , technology , engineering and maths ( STEM ).
The event , supported and funded by The North East STEM Foundation ( NESF ), aimed to inspire and engage young minds in the exciting fields of STEM education by providing an immersive and interactive experience for children , aged 4 to 11 , at the UTC ’ s state-of-the-art facilities .
UTC South Durham , which opened on Aycliffe Business Park in September 2016 , is one of 46 University Technical College ’ s across the country , all of which have been founded by a university and employer partners with a specific subject specialism .
Founded by the University of Sunderland alongside Gestamp and Hitachi , UTC South Durham has a specialism of engineering and advanced manufacturing .
North East STEM Foundation chair Tania Cooper with students Maya and Ben at UTC South Durham .
Throughout the STEM day , primary students actively participated in a range of activities , including scientific experiments , robotics demonstrations , engineering challenges and mathematical puzzles .
NESF chair Tania Cooper said : “ We were thrilled to support UTC South Durham ’ s Primary STEM Day and witness the impact it has on the next generation of aspiring scientists , engineers , and mathematicians .”
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 21