Bringing Aycliffe Business Park Together | 3
Hi and welcome to the fifth issue of Aycliffe Today Business. It gives me great pleasure to write this foreword.
For those who don’ t know me, I manage the Xcel Centre and have the privilege of being Chair of the Aycliffe Business Park( ABP) steering group.
We officially launched the Aycliffe Business Park group in January, and I’ m extremely pleased with the way it’ s panning out. It’ s great to see the enthusiasm in people as the word has spread around the park.
So far this year we have hosted six events and we’ re getting some great feedback from people who are finding it hugely beneficial to just get to know their neighbours and, in some cases, do business with one another.
It has reaffirmed to us what we thought was a good idea, is actually a great idea!
People are genuinely keen to be involved, which is so encouraging as there are no individual agendas here, but an overall interest in seeing the park improve and businesses succeed. The idea is that we all pitch in to make the park a better place, to
WELCOME
FOREWORD By Kerina Clark
AYCLIFFE TODAY BUSINESS
improve us as a group, and that we would all benefit from that in the long-run.
We’ ve been challenging businesses to think beyond themselves. There’ s an old saying, when the tide comes into the harbour, all of the boats rise together. The profile of the park has been raised a lot recently with lots of new businesses coming to Aycliffe- not just Hitachi- and it’ s important for us to have a reputation for businesses succeeding, and hopefully the group is helping in that way.
I also think the strength of the group is its diversity. There are businesses from all walks of industries which enables us to have a balanced view of what needs to be done.
We have an initial 12-month plan which we’ re working towards, which was to establish the group and get as many businesses involved as possible and the early signs are hugely encouraging.
I’ ve been impressed by coverage in the local media and this very magazine is also providing a fantastic platform for us all to communicate with each other.
I hope you enjoy this issue, and I look forward to seeing you at future ABP events.
Kerina Clark Manager, The Xcel Centre Chair, Aycliffe Business Park steering group
Aycliffe Today Business is Newton Aycliffe’ s first and ONLY specific Business-to-Business magazine, distributed across Aycliffe Business Park.
We provide companies with a unique platform to tell everyone about their services in what is a classy, business-like magazine as well as a handy reference and marketing tool.
Our next issue will be out in September, and we’ re taking orders for advertising now, so get in touch.
We’ re also keen on carrying good editorial content, as well as advertisements.
Our trained journalists can write your copy, while our professional designers can help to put your ads together, so we can help you every step of the way.
Aycliffe Today Business … a quality magazine for a quality Business Park.
Aycliffe Today Business | www. aycliffetoday. co. uk
Produced by: Mantis Media, www. mantis-media. com Designed by: NEON, www. youareneon. co. uk Printed and distributed by: HPM Group, www. hpm. uk. com
Editor: Martin Walker | Tel: 01325 728024 | Mobile: 07826 525907 For editorial & advertising, email: martin @ aycliffetoday. co. uk
Contributors to this issue: Martin Walker, Kerina Clark, Gary Collinson, Paul Hargreaves Photography: Martin Walker
Included in the July-August issue of Aycliffe Today Business …
/ 03 WELCOME
Xcel Centre boss Kerina Clark pens our special guest foreword for this issue …
/ 04 NEWS
Merchant Place Developments boss Geoff Hunton guests Aycliffe Business Park meeting
Finley Structures turnover up 36 % to $ 15m
Plus, an exclusive guest column from Linden Group CEO Gary Collinson
/ 05 NEWS
Soccer Factory work set to start Football club appeal to firms
Plus, Hewitts Solicitors partner Paul Hargreaves gives some useful advice for employers
/ 06 NEWS SPECIAL FEATURE:
Business Durham chief Stewart Watkins talks about retirement
/ 07 NEWS
Probation Trust get to work on Aycliffe Business Park
/ 10 CITY SLICKERS
An innovative new education programme has finally landed in the UK, laying roots on Aycliffe Business Park
/ 13 NEWS
Where businesses Xcel in Newton Aycliffe …
/ 15 NEWS
Health and safety expert joins Aycliffe steel firm
Social Media seminar success
/ 17 COMPANY FOCUS
With talk to fire place experts Katell
CONTENTS
/ 18-19 BUSINESS DIRECTORY
A useful guide to who’ s who on Aycliffe Business Park …
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