Aycliffe Today Business AT Business Issue 30 | Página 3

The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 3 INCLUDED IN THE SEPTEMBER- OCTOBER 2017 ISSUE OF AYCLIFFE TODAY BUSINESS… WELCOME / 05 FORREST PARK Next phase of major development begins... GUEST FOREWORD: from Phil Wilson MP Welcome to the 30th issue of Aycliffe Today Business – the magazine for Aycliffe Business Park. I remember quite vividly writing the very first guest foreword for this magazine almost five years ago. Time really has flown by, but the changes and progress we’ve seen here during that time have been huge – you could say the business park is almost unrecognisable compared to November 2012. Back then, my foreword talked about how Aycliffe Business Park was the second largest industrial estate in the North-East, with more than 300 firms residing here. The magazine had just 16 pages and it was only the beginning of what has been an eventful journey. These days, there are now between 400 and 500 companies on Aycliffe Business Park, employing an estimated 10-12,000 people. In the last five years we’ve not only seen the arrival of Hitachi, but we’ve also followed the rapid expansion of Gestamp Tallent – our biggest employer – and we’ve seen the region’s first University Technical College (UTC) built here. We’ve also seen Husqvarna celebrate the production of its one millionth robotic lawnmower; we’ve seen washing machine manufacturing return to the UK for the first time in years, thanks to John Elliott’s vision at Ebac, and we’ve seen shower manufacturer Roman named as one of Europe’s top 1,000 fastest- growing companies, as well as being recognised with the Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade. While it’s fantastic to see our bigger businesses thrive, it’s also hugely important that our small firms do, too. SMEs are the backbone of our economy, employing thousands of people between them. We need to promote the park for their benefit, so they can grow and prosper, and create more jobs and wealth for local people. We also know about the whole skills agenda at the moment, and here in Aycliffe we not only have the UTC, but we also have South West Durham Training which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, as well as lots of other training providers who are helping to nurture our future workforce – work which is so important for our future prosperity. It means we can encourage young people into engineering and manufacturing for generations to come. I sometimes think Newton Aycliffe has punched below its weight in the past, but we’re now seeing it punch its weight. It’s now the biggest business park in the North-East – and is a true economic powerhouse for the region. In summary I’d say Newton Aycliffe really is the place to do business. And as a local man with my roots here I’m hugely proud to represent the business park at Westminster. / 11 STEEL DEAL Finley Structures completes 1,100-tonne Durham city contract... / 18-19 LAW & ORDER We meet the men behind a new corporate law firm based on Aycliffe Business Park... Phil Wilson MP Labour, Sedgefield Business. Business. Aycliffe Today AYCLIFFE TODAY BUSINESS Aycliffe Today Business is Newton Aycliffe’s only business publication, which is mailed exclusively to every company on Aycliffe Business Park. Launched in November 2012, we provide firms with a unique platform to tell everyone about their services and success stories in our prestigious, high-quality publication. The magazine for Aycliffe Aycliffe Today The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park k | ISSUE 28 MAY-JUNE www.aycliffetoday.co.uk | [email protected] 2017 COMPLIMENTARY COMPLIMENTARY Business Park www.aycliffetoday.co.uk | [email protected] k | ISSUE 29: JULY-AUGUST RAZOR SHARP Leading N orth-East IT firm Razorblue has come up with a cost-effective super-fast internet solution for Aycliffe Business Park, with speeds of up to 1,000 MB... / 25 IN A SPIN TOMORROW’S WORLD Why leading shower manufacturer Roman is firm supporters of the highly-acclaimed Future Business Magnates competition... ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: HUSQVARNA Celebrating one millionth Aycliffe... robotic lawnmower in DURHAM LIFTING Firm on the up three years after Aycliffe expansion... FINLEY STRUCTURES Strong start to 2017 f or family steel firm... 2017 ONE YEAR ON Aycliffe Business Park Community marks its first year with relaunch event... GOOD SKILLS Hitachi employment boosted by Aycliffe training provider... FOND FAREWELL Business Durham boss Simon Goon says so long... Washing machine maker Ebac signs record-breaking deal with football club... We produce 2,500 copies every issue – with an estimated readership of more than 8,000. One copy is mailed direct to every company on our database, and the rest are distributed by hand across the park, in hotels and conference centres. Our next issue will be out in November 2017. The booking deadline is Friday October 20, so get in touch with us if you want to get involved. Our trained journalists can write your advertorials and we can take your pictures. Or if it’s a traditional advert you need, our professional graphic designer can do that for you. This is all part of the package – professional writing, photography and graphic design – which offers a truly unrivalled service in Newton Aycliffe. Email [email protected] to ask for our rate card. Aycliffe Today Business | www.aycliffetoday.co.uk Units 8-9, Parson’s Court, Welbury Way, Aycliffe Business Park, Newton Aycliffe, Co. Durham DL5 6ZE Published & distributed by: Mantis Media Ltd, www.mantis-media.com Editor: Martin Walker | Tel: [phone] | Mobile: [phone] Email: [email protected] Designed by KINSHIP: Call 07846186220 | Email [email protected] Contributors to this issue: Martin Walker, Phil Wilson MP, Sarah Burns. Photography: Martin Walker. / 30-31 COFFEE BREAK Roman boss David Osborne answers our 20 questions over a cuppa...