Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business Issue 39 | Page 3

The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 3 INCLUDED IN THE MARCH- APRIL 2019 ISSUE OF AYCLIFFE TODAY BUSINESS… WELCOME /05 FORREST PARK Plans submitted for 55-hectare development… GUEST FOREWORD: from Ben Healey Welcome to the 39th issue of Aycliffe Today Business – the business magazine for Aycliffe Business Park. I t gives me great pleasure to provide the guest foreword for this edition of a publication which is so positive about our park and its businesses. I recently joined the board of Aycliffe Business Park Community (ABPC) – a company which was officially formed in 2016, but which has been running events on the business park for a number of years. For those who don’t know me, I am a partner and solicitor at Greystone Legal. We are based on the business park and specialise exclusively in commercial and employment law. We have the privilege of working with some great local businesses. I now live locally and I love working here – in particular getting to meet new clients and businesses. Having a desk-based job, I always enjoy touring our client’s factories and seeing their workshops in action. I joined 10 other volunteers on the ABPC board towards the end of 2018 as I believe the business park is underappreciated and can offer more to all its residents than just its convenient location. We have lots of events planned for this year and, while we’re happy with the engagement we get from businesses, we’d love to see more. The eagerly-awaited Make Your Mark awards is coming up on Wednesday May 1, and local companies have until April 5 to enter the 10 categories. It’s really quick and easy – just go to aycliffebusinesspark.co.uk/awards and select the category you want to enter. Good luck! We also have a number of other events coming up this year, including specialist seminars at ROF 59 on April 26 and June 21, while our regular news and networking events are due to be held at Planet Leisure on May 24, at South West Durham Training on July 19, at UTC South Durham on September 20 and at the Xcel Centre on November 22. All events are free to Aycliffe businesses (£10 to those not on the park) which includes tea/coffee and breakfast – they’re always well attended so very much worth getting along to. You can register at aycliffebusinesspark.co.uk/events. I hope you enjoy this issue of Aycliffe Today Business – it is, as usual, packed with positive news and features from around our brilliant business park. See you soon. Ben Healey Partner, Greystone Legal & board member, Aycliffe Business Park Community The magazine for Aycliffe COMPLIMENTARY /17 OPTIMUM PRIME Aycliffe training and apprenticeship provider is getting results for businesses… /18-19 BLUE SKY THINKING Martin Walker discovers how Aycliffe- based staff competency experts Think Eleven can boost productivity for employers… Aycliffe Today Business Park The magazine for Aycliffe R 2018 k | ISSUE 37: NOVEMBER-DECEMBE aycliffetoday.co.uk | [email protected] COMPLIMENTARY Business Park aycliffetoday.co.uk | [email protected] k | ISSUE 38: JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2019 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Aycliffe Today Business is Newton Aycliffe’s only business publication, which is mailed exclusively to companies 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. Aycliffe firm provides ‘vital’ air for Evolution E-Types… Business. Business. Aycliffe Today AYCLIFFE TODAY BUSINESS /12 AIR FOR E-TYPES STILLER £1.7m Logistics firm invests in fleet of 20 new vehicles… AVEC PARTNERSHIP School support firm wins national government contract… COFFEE BREAK Greystone Legal’s Paul Humble answers our 20 questions over a cuppa… DIGITA L DREAMS director We meet Johnny Woods, vibrant of one of Aycliffe’s most service providers… HAPPY AS LORRY Third generation family firm Stiller Warehousing and Distribution urging local businesses to enter this year’s fifth annual Make Your Mark awards… For all your festive gatherings with family, friends or is full colleagues The County of festive cheer. Aycliffe Village lunch £19.50pp 2 course festive gathering dinner £23.50pp 2 course festive gathering are available Our festive gatherings menus from Monday 3rd December. all our December menus Visit our website to view lage.com www.thecountyaycliffevil Bookings now being taken. 312273 Give us a call on tel: 01325 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: FORREST PARK Exclusive update on 55-hectare development… GROWTH POTENTIAL Business leaders team up to offer critical advice to small businesses… COFFEE BREAK Stephen Gosnay of Newton Press answers our 20 questions over a cuppa… With an estimated readership of more than 8,000, copies are mailed direct to every company on our database, and the rest are distributed by hand across the park as well as nearby hotels, restaurants and conference centres. /29 HAMMER & PINCERS Local pub with casual dining, an events venue and a touring caravan and campsite... Our next issue will be out in May, and the deadline to book space is Friday April 19, so get in touch with us if you want to get involved. 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, Adam Steel, Jane Turner, Matthew Telling, Sarah Burns. Photography: Martin Walker (including cover), Tom Banks. /30-31 COFFEE BREAK Russ Gibson of Aycliffe Dairies answers our 20 questions over a cuppa…