4 | Aycliffe Today Business
BUSINESS BRIEFS
GESTAMP TURNOVER UP TO £ 460M
Car parts maker Gestamp has reported an increase in turnover to more than £ 460m.
The Spanish-owned group, which has five sites in the UK including its Newton Aycliffe plant, has published group accounts for 2015 which show that sales rose 9 % year-on-year to reach £ 468.5m on the back of a“ pan-European success story” of rising car registrations.
Pre-tax profits also rose at the firm, which produces chassis structural and body components for the likes of Jaguar, Landrover, Volvo, Ford, BMW, Nissan and Honda, by 32 % to £ 18m.
The group has more 2,300 people across UK sites at Cannock in Birmingham, Fareham on the South coast, Llanelli in Wales and Washington, as well as its biggest UK site on Aycliffe Business Park, which employs more than 1,300 staff.
ROMAN RAISE £ 200
Newton Aycliffe shower designer and manufacturer Roman held an annual Macmillan Coffee Morning at their headquarters on Aycliffe Business Park.
Roman is a huge supporter of the Macmillan charity and holds a coffee morning each year for their staff to get involved in and raise money for the charity.
This year they held a“ Great British Bake Off” style competition, where Roman staff baked a variety of different sweet treats.
It was not only Roman staff at their Macmillan Coffee morning, Roman also invited their local suppliers, who brought cakes along and donated to the worthy cause.
The firm raised over £ 200 on the morning for the charity, to help go towards providing medical, emotional, practical and financial support for people with cancer.
£ 17m PROJECT BENEFITS 1,000 + YOUNG PEOPLE
More than 1,000 young people have already signed up to a £ 17m project designed to develop their skills, increase opportunities and help them into work.
Hundreds of 16 to 24-year-olds living in County Durham, who are not in education, employment or training, have joined the DurhamWorks programme, which brings together 17 organisations, including the council, voluntary and community sector, private training providers and a college.
It has been funded with £ 12.78m from the European Council’ s Youth Employment Initiative and £ 4.26m in match funding, with the aim of helping 5,830 young people progress into work, training, education or volunteering by summer 2018.
For more information about DurhamWorks call 03000 262 930, email DurhamWorks @ durham. gov. uk or visit www. durham. gov. uk / durhamworks.
PWS boss inspires record-breaking £ 314k Help for Heroes challenge
The boss of Newton Aycliffe firm PWS has inspired a remarkable, record-breaking fundraising effort.
‘ Blood, Sweat and Gears’ was the brainchild of Mark Stephenson, CEO of PWS on Aycliffe Business Park, which successfully undertook a 500km cycling challenge across South Africa.
It was hoped to raise £ 250,000 for Help for Heroes – but it has now topped £ 314,000, making it the highest amount of any singular, third-party fundraising challenge ever donated to Help for Heroes.
In recognition of this phenomenal achievement, Blood, Sweat and Gears has received the Charity’ s Hero Award for Extraordinary Teams.
The money raised by the team will fund three additional psychological wellbeing advisors over three years for the charity’ s psychological wellbeing program; Hidden Wounds. The programme delivers early intervention
Organisers behind the region’ s biggest engineering and manufacturing expo are already making plans for next year – the event’ s tenth birthday.
Hundreds of people from across the region descended on the Xcel Centre for the 2016 event.
Businesses from a diverse range of sectors took the opportunity to showcase their capabilities to potential customers and suppliers, with many forging new links which they hope to convert into work.
This year’ s Oktoberfest also included the Automotive and Manufacturing Advanced Practice( AMAP) North East Maintenance Forum; themed workshops with the British Standards Institute, LEC Consultancy and Fastems UK; and a panel debate with business experts from around the North East.
PSW boss Mark Stephenson receives an award from Help for Heroes after his fundraising idea raised £ 314,000 for the popular charity.
mental health support for wounded, injured and sick veterans and their families.
Stephenson said he was extremely proud to have made the record-breaking donation, adding:“ I extend my heartfelt and sincere thanks to our suppliers, customers and the truly great British public who embraced my‘ pie-in-the-sky’ idea.
“ They were behind us all the way and ensured that Blood Sweat & Gears exceeded all expectations.”
Among the cyclists were PWS staff, four veterans being supported by Help for Heroes, and ex-rugby international Will Greenwood, who described the challenge as one of the most incredible experiences of his life.
Bryn Parry, CEO and Co-Founder of Help for Heroes said:“ Knowing they have remarkable organisations like PWS standing beside them, willing to do amazing things, will make a huge difference on their recovery journeys.
“ Together we are rebuilding lives.”
Hundreds flock to Oktoberfest event in Aycliffe
David Land, chairman of the County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network( CDEMN), which organises Oktoberfest, said:“ There was such a positive buzz around the Xcel Centre throughout the day and the exhibitors I spoke to were very encouraged by the new contacts they made, which is what Oktoberfest is all about.
“ The challenge for us now is to make next year’ s event even bigger and better”
Durham Oktoberfest 2017 takes place on Thursday, October 19, and full details will be announced in the coming weeks.