Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business Issue 41 | Page 3

The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 3 INCLUDED IN THE JULY-AUGUST ISSUE OF AYCLIFFE TODAY BUSINESS… WELCOME FOREWORD: from Martin Walker I /15 WALK IN THE PARK Welcome to the 41st issue of Aycliffe Today Business t has taken a lot longer than usual to bring you the latest issue of Aycliffe Business Park’s magazine. Thank you for your patience. It is admittedly that time of the year when some things come to a head. Holiday commitments, your staff’s holiday commitments, your clients’ holiday commitments; school holidays… everyone’s on holiday. But we’ve become victim to that age-old excuse. Time. However… we’re back with a bang! It won’t take readers – and those who scurry to the directory pages to make sure we’ve corrected their postcode – long to realise we’ve done away with the freeloaders’ playground. We carried the directory since we launched Aycliffe Today Business, probably naively thinking it would be easy to keep on top of. We also thought it might be a useful advertising tool. Alas, it’s amazing how many companies contact us to be included in the free directory, but then tell us they “don’t need to advertise”. The truth is, Aycliffe Business Park’s directory changes so quickly – with both arrivals and departures – so it is very difficult to maintain it accurately. And, frankly, I’m also fed-up of providing a free service to businesses who clearly don’t value it (or, apparently, need it). So, for that reason, I’m out. Which brings me brilliantly on to the fabulous Sara Davies! Who else saw her on the telly? There are several reasons Sara is shining so brightly on Dragons’ Den. Not because she’s the newbie. Not because she has a brilliant business brain (although that clearly might have swayed the producers). But because she has a way with people. I felt proud when I saw Sara on Dragons’ Den – not because of anything I’d done, because she has made Newton Aycliffe the home for her business, which has directly and indirectly put our town and business park on the map, but also because she’s just a lovely person who has clearly never forgotten her roots. And, of course, I’m grateful that at least she (and a few others) value publications like this. Martin Walker Editor, Aycliffe Today Business. 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. k | ISSUE 39: MARCH-APRIL Business. 2019 aycliffetoday.co.uk | [email protected] COMPLIMENTARY The magazine for Aycliffe Business BLUE SKY THINKING Mobile Rocket shortlisted for two major awards… EXCELPOINT Software innovator on for record growth… COFFEE BREAK target answers Milk man Russ Gibson a cuppa… our 20 questions over | martin@aycliffetoda y.co.uk | ISSUE 40: MAY-JUNE Businesses take ‘leap of faith’ during unusual networking event… 2019 We meet Aycliffe Business Park’s newest creative agency… ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: SARA DAVIES We hear from the Dragon’s Den star… JOINING THE DOTS Optimum Skills is helping Aycliffe joinery firm reach new heights… COFFEE BREAK Business Durham boss Brian Archer 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. Our next issue will be out in September, and the deadline to book space is Friday September 6, so get in touch with us if you want to get involved. Email [email protected] to ask for our rate card. /21 WAKE-UP CALL TOP THAT how staff Aycliffe Today discovers Eleven can competency experts Think employers… boost productivity for BLAST OFF Park COMPLIMENTARY aycliffetoday.co.uk ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Aycliffe Business Park entrepreneur John Finley creates new sensory room for children with autism… Publishing company proving print hasn’t had its day… Aycliffe Today Business Park The magazine for Aycliffe /18-19 SENSITIVE SOUL /22 DEAD CERT Aycliffe Today AYCLIFFE TODAY BUSINESS New hotel part of £140m business park plans approved by councillors… /27 A WORTHY CAUSE Welfare officer provides vital support for young apprentices… 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, Colin Young, Rachel Anderson, Sarah Burns. Photography: Chris Both (including cover), Tom Banks, Martin Walker. /32-33 COFFEE BREAK Excelpoint boss Ian Brown answers our 20 questions over a cuppa…