Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business Issue 35 | Page 19

The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 19
John Parnell receives his Aycliffe Ambassador award at the fourth
annual Make Your Mark event on Aycliffe Business Park.
‘Thanks, John!’
Business Durham’s business development area manager (South) John Parnell is recognised
by the Aycliffe Business Park Community board with ambassador award…
By Martin Walker
J
ohn Parnell’s affiliation with Newton
Aycliffe, unbeknown to many, spans four
decades.
Originally from Croydon in South London,
he moved to the North-East as a youngster
and spent most of his schooling days in the
Peterlee area.
The 65-year-old has since worked in civil
services all over the country, including roles
for the Department for International Trade,
the Department for Education and One North
East, the regional development agency which
was dissolved in 2012.
He has spent more recent years as
business development area manager
(South) for Business Durham, the economic
development organisation for County
Durham, working on behalf of Durham
County Council to deliver the environment for
business and economic growth.
Business Durham works closely with
partners to encourage an enterprise culture,
helping entrepreneurs to turn bright ideas
into successful reality and students to
develop enterprise skills to become our
future business leaders.
Working within Sarah Slaven’s business
development team, his role is to promote
enterprise, foster the environment for
new businesses to start up, and enable
businesses in the County to develop and
grow.
John played a pivotal role in setting up the
original Aycliffe Business Park Steering Group
more than five years ago, and continues to
have a positive influence.
The Aycliffe Business Park Community
board felt it was a fitting tribute to hand John
the Aycliffe Ambassador award at this year’s
Make Your Mark event for the role has played
in recent years.
But a modest John quipped: “I’m only
doing my job!”
He has seen lots of changes on Aycliffe
Business Park over the years, though, and
added: “Through one job or another – and
for the past 40 years – I’ve always been
discovering new and exciting, innovative
businesses here in Aycliffe.
“But I’ve definitely seen a change here
recently. The business park is becoming
more visible, and it isn’t just down to Hitachi.
Some of our ‘home grown’ businesses –
the likes of Gestamp, Ebac, 3M – have all
expanded, and we have the new Forrest
Park and Station Park developments on the
horizon.
“It’s no longer the sleeping giant it once
was for many years. The park collectively
has now become a serious big player for the
North-East.”
Business Durham managing director Brian
Archer was delighted to see John’s work
acknowledged.
“It’s great to see John recognised for all his
amazing efforts over the years,” he said.
“He has done an outstanding job and is a
brilliant ambassador for business, many of
whom he has supported and seen grow into
hugely successful enterprises.
“He is a man of great integrity and kindness
and takes a genuine pride in the work that
he does. He is very highly regarded by the
businesses and his colleagues alike.
“So many congratulations to John for his
recognition and thanks for his outstanding
contribution.”
Aycliffe councillor John Clare, Durham
County Council’s cabinet support member
for economy and regeneration, who won the
inaugural Aycliffe Ambassador award last year,
was equally pleased, adding: “The county’s
economic future depends upon the synergy
between our businesses and our people, so
thank you and well deserved to John Parnell
for your outstanding contribution, and thank
you also to the Make Your Mark awards
for acknowledging the work of those, like
John, who support and celebrate the Aycliffe
Business Park Community.”