HARTLEPOOL NEWS
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Hartlepool firm focused on emergency response consultancy has seen substantial growth by successfully dealing with the ongoing impact of Covid-19 .
Evolution Risk Assurance ( ERA ), which has offices in London and the United States , has integrated emerging digital technologies having previously travelled the globe delivering face-to-face ( F2F ) bespoke emergency response and crisis management training to its clients .
ERA flexed quickly to this emerging threat by fast-tracking the creation of its own blended mixed reality training solution – an augmented and virtual reality service .
It quickly advanced its own unique online training systems to meet the personal development needs of some of the world ’ s biggest energy companies , such as BP and Shell .
Founder and CEO Kevin Boffy said : “ Covid has presented us with a unique set of challenges and opportunities and
Ex-sports writer launches media agency
A well-known sportswriter has launched a new PR and media services company .
The Northern Echo ’ s former chief football writer Paul Fraser has created Hartlepoolbased Rephrase to promote clients in sport and business .
Paul said : “ I have a specialism in sport , having spent more than two decades covering top-level football , golf and boxing , and I will be looking to put those experiences and contacts to good use .
“ But I also have experience of the PR and communications industry and I am excited about broadening ideas into the business and education sector too .”
Email info @ rephrasemedia . com or visit rephrasemedia . com .
ERA USES TECH TO TRAIN WORLD ’ S LEADING ENERGY COMPANIES
we have developed new services and addressed new needs for large multinational clients operating in petrochemical , energy and renewables .”
ERA was in the early-stage testing of F2F virtual reality with initial successes for onshore energy workers .
The arrival of the pandemic and the increase in remote working worldwide led to a team of in-house developers providing a viable product .
Significant business growth has allowed for new staff positions and an exciting product development pipeline .
ERA is a team comprising emergency response , crisis management and fire engineering consultants , who together bring industry-leading experience in the development of immersive experiences across many high hazard sectors .
It has recently agreed new partnerships with a major training provider in south-east Asia and New Zealand .
NEW JOBS AT RECYCLING SPECIALIST
Independent waste management firm J & B Recycling has announced the creation of 20 new jobs after a positive forecast for the year despite the impact of coronavirus .
The company experienced a 30 per cent growth in the first quarter of 2020 against the same period in the previous year , despite three departments in the company operating on reduced tonnages and services .
CEO Vikki Jackson-Smith said : “ Our teams at J & B have shown commitment and dedication throughout our growth and even more so over these challenging months .”
Hartlepool-based J & B Recycling currently operates four recycling sites covering 20 acres located across the North-East .
Management buyout at estate agents
Dowen Estate Agents , which has a head office in Hartlepool and seven additional branches , along with a bespoke auction department across the North- East , has been acquired in a management buyout funded by HSBC .
The full-service estate agency offers a wide range of propertyrelated services covering sales , lettings , auctions , surveys , mortgages and conveyancing .
The company was acquired by John Nicholson and Trudie Bowes , now joint managing directors , from retiring managing director Denis Dowen .
John and Trudie have been at Dowen for more than 35 years combined .
Founded in 1982 , the firm ’ s residential sales department has sold tens of thousands of properties .
30 NEW POSTS AS ALDI STORE OPENS
A team of 30 new staff from the local area has been employed to work in Aldi ’ s new store on Brenda Road , Hartlepool .
The store , which replaces a smaller branch at Teesbay Retail Park , has more floor space at 1,254 sq m and offers customers large chillers and freezers .
A traffic light system will be used to control the number of customers coming in and out and to help customers to keep their distance due to the Covid pandemic .
Other safety measures include sanitisation stations near the doors , Perspex screens at the tills and reminders throughout the story to social distance .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 103