4 | Aycliffe Today Business
BUSINESS BRIEFS
EBAC PROFITS CLIMB 254 %
Newton Aycliffe manufacturer Ebac has announced a climb in sales – with profits up by 254 %.
Ebac , the only British company to produce washing machines , dehumidifiers and water coolers in the UK , says its annual sales have climbed from £ 13.3m to £ 15.4m .
The firm , founded more than 40 years ago by Brexit-backing entrepreneur John Elliott MBE , who now serves as its executive chairman , recorded a profit of £ 327,663 in the year ending 31st December 2016 , a 254 % increase on its 2015 profit of £ 128,923 .
Almost £ 5m of turnover was UK sales , with exports accounting for more than £ 10m .
TEKMAR ’ S NEW RECRUITS
Tekmar Energy has recently welcomed several new additions to its expanding team .
Due to confidence in future demand and business growth , the market leading specialists in cable and subsea protection systems for the offshore energy markets has welcomed three new employees at its Aycliffe Business Park premises .
Rob McGill joins as the HSQE manager , Dean Milburn as production manager and Helen Brooks has also joined as the firm ’ s new financial controller .
CARING CARETAKER EXPANSION
A Newton Aycliffe-based property management company , which specialises in giving ex-servicemen and women a new start on ‘ civvy street ’, is set to launch a recruitment drive after landing an important new contract .
Caring Caretaker , part of the AAA Property ( North-East ) group based on Aycliffe Business Park , has gone from strength-to-strength in the past few years – thanks in part to its policy of using ex-services personnel wherever possible , and the firm has recently extended its service into Scotland and North Yorkshire after winning a number of new deals .
CRAFTER ’ S THIRD STORE
Crafter ’ s Companion celebrating a record launch at its third retail store in Worcestershire .
The new Evesham store marks a £ 270,000 investment for the firm , creating 27 new jobs , and follows the company ’ s Aycliffe Business Park and Chesterfield outlets .
Its opening brought in crowds of more than 3,000 people in the first fortnight and generated over 800 sales of crafting products during a launch weekend .
Crafter ’ s Companion , which was founded in 2005 by County-Durham-born entrepreneur Davies , is now a national and global success – with the group ’ s turnover this year expected to top £ 25m .
Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson says he ’ s “ very hopeful ” of Durham Tees Valley Airport ’ s future .
Businesses urged to back airport campaign
Businesses have been told they can play a vital role in helping the owners of Durham Tees Valley Airport to secure its long-term future .
Peel Airports chairman Robert Hough briefed local companies and special guests , including Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson and Aycliffe Today , on the progress being made in delivering the ‘ Master Plan ’ as its new £ 250,000 terminal improvements were revealed .
Mr Hough also revealed Peel has invested £ 38m in the airport to date to cover vast losses – but that the airport remains committed to securing its long-term future . Delivery of the Master Plan , launched in 2014 , is now being phased to 2020 and beyond and is aimed at creating 3,800 new jobs , plus a further 450 full-time jobs during its construction phases , and it ’ s claimed will add more than £ 348m GVA to the regional economy .
Young entrepreneurs have been set the challenge of thinking ‘ smart ’ when developing their business ideas for a competition designed to inspire enterprise skills among schoolchildren .
Future Business Magnates ( FBM ) – an annual competition run by Business Durham , the economic development organisation for County Durham – will this year challenge Year 8 children from across County Durham to devise a smart solution to a problem they have identified in the region .
The competition was launched in early November at the Xcel Centre on Aycliffe Business Park .
Its theme ‘ Smart County Durham ’ will encourage pupils aged 12 and 13 to use resources and do research to create a product or service which would make a
Other development proposals include a mixture of office and residential with associated community facilities and an extension to the on-site St George ’ s Hotel .
The airport currently sits within the Sedgefield Constituency , and its Labour MP Mr Wilson told Aycliffe Today : “ It ’ s a very big milestone for the airport . It ’ s been a long and tough journey . But Peel have always had a long-term plan for this airport and have invested millions of pounds over the years to keep it going , as well as £ 250,000 on this new departure lounge .
“ With Peel I think we have a company which is willing to stick with it for the longterm , and I ’ m really positive about its future .”
DTVA ’ s Master Plan predicts passenger numbers to grow at the airport to 200,000 a year by 2020 , in line with Government forecasts , from the 165,000 figure it handled in 2012 .
Schoolchildren get ‘ smart ’
positive difference to the way we live or work .
Influential names from the business world , including Bignall Group , Ebac , Hydram , Waterstons , CA Group , Robertsons Construction , Hodgson Sayers and Thorn Lighting , are partnering the 18 school teams to provide mentoring and support .