Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business Issue 36 | Page 5

The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 5 /NEWS BUSINESS BRIEFS TEKMAR ACQUISITION Raisco managing director Gary Raistrick says his firm is back on the up after weathering a tricky period in the construction industry. Steel firm rises to challenge as it helps to construct Warburton’s R&D centre A Newton Aycliffe steel firm is celebrating after completing more than a dozen contracts around the country in the last year. Raisco has worked on 14 projects in the last 12 months, totalling 1,800 tonnes of steel, which were fabricated at its premises on Aycliffe Business Park in Newton Aycliffe. The firm, founded by Gary Raistrick in 2007, has just completed a 160-tonne project fabricating and erecting the steel frame for Hargreaves Contracting, who are building a new research and development centre for bread-making giant Warburton’s in Bolton. The world-famous bakery was given the go-ahead in 2017 to build the state- of-the-art R&D facility to test and develop innovative new products, following on from new favourites like the Giant Crumpet and Sandwich Thins. The new two-story centre will house a large test bakery, a milling room, food stores and staff showers and changing areas as well as administration offices and meeting spaces. Raistrick said: “We’re delighted to have worked on such a high-profile and important project for a world-renowned brand. “We completed the steelwork package for the project ahead of schedule and within budget, so overall it was an excellent contract win for us.” Raisco has also recently completed a 200-tonne steel project for Ward Recycling’s new plant in Hartlepool. And this summer Raistrick’s firm finished a 290-tonne portal shed for AV Dawson in Middlesbrough as well as 100-tonne project for Tolent at Tyne Coast College’s New Build Education Centre in North Shields. Raisco has also completed no less than eight new stores for German retail giant Lidl, totalling 935 tonnes of steel, on behalf of main contractors at locations across the UK, including Hartlepool, Consett, London, Glasgow, Manchester, Stoke and Eastbourne on the South coast. Raistrick added: “It has been a particularly busy 12 months for us after we managed to weather what was an unpredictable and volatile market place.” Raistrick, who started his career within the civil engineering sector, now has 30 years’ experience in the construction industry and employs 25 staff at his firm’s 35,000 sq ft premises in Aycliffe. Tekmar Group has formally completed the acquisition of Subsea Innovation, which will lead to an accelerated focus on new product development as the company looks to expand its position as a global market leader. Marking its first acquisition since its successful admission to the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) in June 2018, the purchase of Subsea Innovation significantly increases the technical of capabilities within Tekmar Group. 3M VOLUNTEERS Sixteen workers from 3M on Aycliffe Business Park spent seven hours at the Pioneering Care Partnership, at Cobblers Hall, as part of Global Volunteer Day. The green-fingered grafters spent the day in the PCP garden, where they dug out weeds and cleaned pavements among other jobs. US-owned manufacturer 3M has proudly supported a wide range of local projects during its 50 years in Aycliffe, providing more than 50 volunteers and over 536 hours of support this year alone. HITACHI LOSE 150+ STAFF Hitachi Rail Europe has confirmed more than 150 temporary workers won’t have their contracts renewed in December. The train manufacturer, which opened its factory on Aycliffe Business Park three years ago, lost out on a contract to design and manufacture 94 Deep Tube trains to serve the London Underground’s Piccadilly line earlier this year. Hitachi currently employs 750 permanent staff, with another 500 on fixed-term contracts. Engineering excellence for Woodham students E ngineering students at Newton Aycliffe school Woodham Academy achieved record results with this summer’s exams. Not only was the pass rate 100%, but students overall gained one and a half grades above similar students nationally. Woodham Academy engineering teacher, Peter Groves, attributes students’ success to the rich and engaging curriculum in engineering. Every term during the three-year course, students visit engineering plants or take part in a masterclass led by engineers from local companies. Recent visits include Husquvana, Gestamp, Nissan UK and Ardmore Craig, allowing students to compare how theory is AYCLIFFE TODAY BUSINESS put into practice in a range of settings. The school’s strong links with a range of companies allows all students to complete a work experience placement in line with their career aspirations. We’re already working on the November-December issue – the final edition of 2018. Promotional space is available from just £150 – or £75 a month – and the deadline to book space is 5pm on Friday October 19. To enquire, call Martin on 01325 728024 or email [email protected]