Aycliffe Today Business | Page 2

Bringing Aycliffe Business Park Together | 3 WELCOME FOREWORD By Pamela Petty Welcome to the May-June edition of Aycliffe Today Business I’m delighted be write the guest foreword for this 16th issue. For us at Ebac, it’s a really exciting time. Washing machines are now starting to roll off the production line and we have deals in place with some well-known retailers. We’re also close to agreeing a deal to supply washing machines to another major high street retailer, which will represent a significant step forward. We’ve had machines going through rigorous tests in recent months and the fact they’re real - and not just plans or spreadsheets on a computer - makes it really exciting. Ultimately, we hope to make up to 200,000 machines every year, and establish the Ebac brand as a well-known manufacturer of white goods across the UK. I’ve said before in these pages of Aycliffe Today Business that we should be champions of manufacturing at home. YOUR BUSINESS. OUR SAFE HANDS. Our business protecting your business • Business insurance • Risk management • Financial planning NFU Mutual is the proud sponsor of the British Chambers of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award 2015. There are many other companies here on Aycliffe Business Park who are manufacturing and exporting products to welcoming vibrant inspiring all corners of the globe. Indeed, the main feature in this issue is with Gestamp Tallent - the business park’s oldest and biggest employer - and its £11m investment in a new press plant and stateof-the-art presses, ensuring the production of car chassis in Aycliffe for more than 30 years. The assembling of high-speed trains will also begin here next year, with Hitachi’s £82m factory due to open later this year, and there are many other firms such as PWS, 3M, Meditek, Husqvarna and Tekmar Energy - to name just a few - all making things here in Aycliffe. We should all be proud of what we make and celebrate the fact we’re at the heart of the North East when it comes to manufacturing. I hope you enjoy this issue, and thanks for reading. Pamela Petty Managing Director, Ebac AYCLIFFE TODAY BUSINESS Fr mo infrmat n o hw o re o io n o NF M ual arl o branc c hl U ut D ingtn h an e p yo busine plase nt t ur ss e c ac us: o T0325 66989 :1 4 Edarl o nf : ingtn@ umut .o ual . c uk NF M ual arl o U 1 T e U ut D ingtn, nit 2a, h Beh eL ie PintMM ln e iv, ingf l o , c ul d e Rad, arl o D 1 Y o D ingtn, L 1 N w w umut .o darl o w. nf ual . c uk/ ingtn The Complete Solution to Make Your Meeting or Conference a Success Looking for a venue with smart, modern facilities and friendly staff plus great catering all at a reasonable price? The Work Place is the ideal place! TRAIN IN COUR G SES ALSO AVAIL ABLE Aycliffe Today Business is Newton Aycliffe’s only Business-toBusiness 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. We produce 2,500 copies every issue – with an estimated readership of more than 8,000. One copy is mailed direct to every company on our database, currently 250, and the rest are distributed by hand across the park, in hotels and conference centres. Our next issue will be out in July, so get in touch with us if you want to get involved. Our trained journalists can write your copy, while our professional designers can help to put your ads together, so whatever your requirements are, we can help you every step of the way. Aycliffe Today Business… bringing Aycliffe Business Park together! INCLUDED IN THE MAY-JUNE 2015 ISSUE OF AYCLIFFE TODAY BUSINESS… /04 NEWS High praise for Little Cubs... /05 NEWS Housing plans to save Woodham Golf Club... Plus, a tribute to Xcel Church Pastor Pamela Greenow... /06 NEWS Lidl plans to create 70 new jobs in Aycliffe... /07 NEWS Shepherd Construction win national award... /08 TONY BLAIR Former Prime Minister visits Aycliffe Business Park... /12-13 STILLER Aycliffe warehousing and distribution firm reveals £1.1m expansion... /14-15 RAISCO Fabrication firm wins multi-million-pound Lidl deal... /18-19 MAIN FEATURE Gestamp Tallent’s 30-year vision... /21 FINLEY STRUCTURES Steel firm wins high-profile Leeds shopping centre contract... /23 MILL VOLVO North East car dealer reveals profits high... /28-29 TIM FRANCIS Our columnist reviews Tony Blair’s visit to Aycliffe... /31 LOCAL MOTION Who won Watt? Intercompany challenge gets workers vying for victory... /32-33 COFFEE BREAK Finley Structures boss Julie Finley is in the chair... Aycliffe Today Business | www.aycliffetoday.co.uk /34-35 BUSINESS DIRECTORY Published & distributed by : Mantis Media Ltd, www.mantis-media.com Designed by: NEON, www.youareneon.co.uk Follow us on Facebook and Twitter A useful guide to who’s who on Aycliffe Business Park… Editor: Martin Walker | Tel: [phone] | Mobile: [phone] Editorial: [email protected] Enter now at chamberawards.co.uk Contributors to this issue: Martin Walker, Tim Francis. Photography: Martin Walker. The Work Place, Heighington Lane, Aycliffe Business Park, Newton Aycliffe, Co. Durham, DL5 6AH T: 01325 375900 Email: [email protected] Web: www.twpa.org.uk AYCLIFFE AURASMIC! Download the Aurasma app on your phone, search for Aycliffe Today and follow us, then scan any image in our publications which contains the Aurasma logo – and watch the printed page come to life!