Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business issue 32 | Page 4

4 | Aycliffe Today Business

BUSINESS BRIEFS

BIG DEAL FOR TEKMAR
Newton Aycliffe subsea manufacturer Tekmar Energy has announced three major new contracts at the Hornsea ONE project .
The Hornsea ONE project , located 120km off the Yorkshire coast , will become the world ’ s largest offshore windfarm once operational in 2020 .
It will consist of 174 Siemens 7MW turbines covering an area of approximately 406km2 .
Aycliffe-based Tekmar , a supplier of cable protection systems for offshore windfarms , has been awarded three separate contracts on the project through different customers to supply its patented TekLink cable protection systems .
The firm says collectively the contracts represent a multi-million pound scope of works which all need to be delivered in the early part of 2018 .
BREAKFAST CLUB FUNDING
A company that is pivotal in seeing the elimination of food waste to landfill is making sure that young children get the chance to ‘ eat up ’ by funding a breakfast club .
The new Greggs Foundation breakfast club is being run at St Andrew ’ s School in Bishop Auckland – sponsored by Warrens Group , which collects food waste from all over the region to be converted through its £ 15m Emerald Biogas facility on Aycliffe Business Park .
Emerald Biogas already processes 115,000 tonnes annually at its Aycliffe facility – a figure that is growing year on year – which enables more than 100 million KWH of clean energy to be generated , enough to power 19,000 homes for a year .
UNI ’ S NEW MBA
Teesside University Business School ( TUBS ) is launching a new MBA programme which aims to build the region ’ s entrepreneurial leadership skills .
The course will be the flagship programme for the newly-launched business school and puts enterprise at its heart .
The MBA has been inspired by Babson College in the United States , a global leader in the teaching of entrepreneurship , and will bring together local , national and international leaders with experience in management to learn how to manage complex business challenges in a today ’ s global economic environment .
Commercial Expert ’ s new business manager Tracey Barnes has resumed her career in finance after 12 years in the classroom .

Mum resumes her career in finance after 12 years in the classroom

A working mum has rekindled her passion for finance after 12 years working as a teaching assistant .
Tracey Barnes spent 18 years working for Barclays before she took up a school role to accommodate family life .
Now she has returned to her roots as business manager for Newton Aycliffe corporate finance firm Commercial Expert .
Tracey began her banking career with Barclays in Aycliffe and also worked in the firm ’ s Darlington and Barnard Castle branches as well as its corporate centre on Teesside .
She then took up a teaching assistant ’ s role at West Park School in Darlington and later Staindrop Primary School .
Now her children have grown up , Tracey is relishing being back in the office after taking the leap back into business .
“ It was a massive decision – the day I handed my notice in was a big day ,” admitted Tracey , from Darlington .
“ But I see it very much as an opportunity . I ’ ve always seen myself working in a small office in a customer service-based role . This
A climbing facility in Newton Aycliffe has been given a major lift with a £ 350,000 investment .
ROF 59 activity centre on Aycliffe Business Park has spent the cash to re-launch its climbing area with five exciting new elements .
Bosses at ROF 59 , which is owned by local businessman John Finley , have used renowned Lancashire-based firm Entre-Prises to install new climbing facilities for people of all abilities .
With the help of local climbing consultant Nick Pilling , of Redworth-based Mountain Activity Company ( MAC ), the four-month programme has created two new full-time and 10 part-time roles at ROF 59 .
Adventure walls , speed climbing walls , a tower climbing area , mosaic climbing walls and ‘ bouldering ’ are all now available at ROF 59 , with courses and party bookings available in January .
happened at the right time and I love it .”
Commercial Expert offers a comprehensive range of business finance to a broad spectrum of clients , each with differing financial requirements . Services include business loans , property investment finance , and development finance , bridging finance and crowdfunding loans .
Tracey added : “ I ’ ve been employed so the business can continue to grow organically by increasing its customer base in the North- East .
“ Commercial Expert is well-known nationally , but my remit is to nurture local relationships . I see my role as providing an efficient and friendly customer service to satisfy all business finance needs .”
Commercial Expert added two more staff to its team a year ago , and the firm now manages more than £ 48m-worth of deals a year for clients nationwide .
You can contact Commercial Expert on 01325 359800 , email info @ commercialexpert . co . uk or go to www . commercialexpert . co . uk
New climbing facilities on offer after £ 350k investment at ROF 59
Finley Leisure managing director John Finley with ROF 59 lead climbing instructor Matthew Breadin ( left ) and consultant Nick Pilling .
ROF 59 now hosts a modern , dedicated indoor bouldering and climbing area for people of all ages and abilities , including dedicated bouldering walls , mosaic walls rising up to 16m , a 21m free jump tower and two speed climbing walls as well as themed adventure walls .
ROF 59 originally opened in September 2015 after a £ 1.1m investment , rejuvenating the old Presswork Metals building and former World War II munitions factory into a 21st Century entertainment and leisure venue .