Bringing Aycliffe Business Park Together | 5
WELCOME
FOREWORD By Geoff Hunton,
Merchant Place Developments
It gives me great pleasure to
write the foreword for what is
a very exciting issue of Aycliffe
Today Business.
For many years now, there has been a lot of
talk, a tremendous amount of planning and
millions of pounds of money spent just to
bring the Hitachi Rail Project to fruition.
Too many people have played their part for
me to be able to list here, unfortunately,
but we can all be extremely proud that
the rebirth of North-East train-building is
happening right here in Newton Aycliffe.
Hitachi Rail Europe have always said that
while value-for-money is crucial, they were
determined to employ as many local people
as possible to construct what will be a
magnificent £82m facility on Merchant Park.
Darlington firm Shepherd Construction
were installed as the main contractor and,
I’m delighted to say, Aycliffe firm Finley
Structures won the contract to construct the
steel frame for the factory.
Included in the JanuaryFebruary issue of Aycliffe
Today Business…
/06 NEWS
Entrepreneur hoping to treble business by
inter-trading with fellow Aycliffe firms…
Plus, financial expert Russell Mercer gives
the lowdown on work-placed pensions
The hard work starts now, of course, but
after establishing themselves as a marketleader in their industry, they deserve the