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AYCLIFFETODAY
BUSINESS BRIEFS
RECORD YEAR FOR UPEX
Aycliffe-based
Upex
Electrical
Distributors (UED) says it enjoyed a
record-breaking jump in turnover.
is the only specialist electrical
and plumbing wholesaler in Newton
Aycliffe.
UED, part of the Upex Group owned
by local entrepreneur John Upex,
enjoyed a big jump in turnover during
2013, up more than 30% on 2012 –
the firm’s best-ever performance in
its 26-year history – while the firm’s
growth has trebled in the last seven
years.
More on this at
www.aycliffetoday.co.uk
SOCCER FACTORY OFFER
Keen footballers are being offered
the chance to sign up to a rewards
crowdfunding scheme to support a
state-of-the-art sports facility in the
town.
The Soccer Factory plans to open
its first complex on Aycliffe Business
Park later this year.
And they’re offering the local
community an opportunity to buy
into a rewards scheme which will
offer members a range of benefits
including discounted court fees,
VIP invites to the launch event
and a chance to meet and greet
Premiership football stars, from as
little as £10 per person.
More details at
www.growthfunders.com
HUNDREDS ATTEND
BUSINESS PARK EVENT
Hundreds of delegates from 240
North-East companies descended on
Aycliffe Business Park to hear from
key figures in the North East ChemicalProcessing sector in June.
Almost 500 delegates attended
NEPIC’s Annual Meet the Members
event – the largest conference the
cluster has organised to date, which
showcased innovation happening
within the region – at the Xcel Centre.
The full story, including a gallery of
pictures, is in the business section
at www.aycliffetoday.co.uk
TRAVEL
RANGERS
ARE SMOOTH
OPERATORS!
Travel Rangers Steve
Shepperson and Francisca
Guzman-Speight with the
Smoothie Bike.
Pedal power has been taken to another level as an exciting bicycle
of a very different kind has arrived on Aycliffe Business Park.
As part of the Local Motion project,
The Smoothie Bike is offering the
experience of cycling with a healthy
delicious and nutritious reward
through creating your very own
smoothie as you pedal.
Local Motion Travel Ranger Steve
Shepperson said: “The Smoothie Bike
experience is a very light hearted way
to focus people’s attention on nutrition
and exercise.
“The custom-made bike has a
smoothie machine attached to it
which works when you start pedalling,
you can take as long as you want to
and enjoy the reward of a tasty treat
when you have finished; it’s great fun!
“Exercise doesn’t have to be hard
work it can be enjoyable too and
already the Smoothie Bike has got
people talking about exercise and
healthy eating.”
Local Motion is a project promoting
the health benefits of active travel
in the areas of Aycliffe, Shildon and
Bishop Auckland. The aim is to
encourage workers to leave the car
at home and get active while having
a positive impact on the environment,
health and pocket.
Local Motion is funded by the
Department for Transport’s Local
Sustainable Transport Fund and is
supported by Durham County and
Darlington Borough councils, and also
works in partnership with the NHS and
leading charity Sustrans.
As part of the project the Smoothie
Bike recently spent a day at Evans
Easyspace on the business park.
Centre Manager Vanessa Wood
said: “It was amazing to see people’s
reaction to the bike, it raised quite a
few smiles and it was a really positive
day, it created a great team spirit with
work colleagues who were urging
each other on to have a go.
“It really got people talking about
cycling which wouldn’t normally
happen but it did work because it was
a different approach and it generated
a lot of interest.”
Cyclists can also have fun in
creating their own unique smoothie by
choosing from a variety of fresh fruit
from the Local Motion team such as
strawberries, grapes, kiwis, pineapple
and oranges to name a few.
So far to date the Smoothie Bike has
created over 100 smoothies on the
park with plans to try and generate
many many more.
Steve said: “People are starting to
get to know me now on the park which
is brilliant because we are keen to
work with as many companies here as
possible as part of the project.
“The whole idea is to try and get
an understanding of what transport
people are using to get to work and to
introduce other methods and cycling
is just one of them. But if we can show
this to them in a fun and enjoyable
way it makes it much more achievable
for them.”
Other services available as part
of the Local Motion project include
lunchtime walks, cycle to work
challenges, walk to work challenge,
cycle training, ‘Doctor bike’ sessions,
‘Fit for Life’ health checks, a driving
simulator and the ‘Watt bike challenge.
For further information on any of
the services and to be part of the
project or to request the Smoothie
Bike experience please email Steve on
Steven.Shepperson@durham.gov.uk