A CGI of ReNew ELP ’ s site planned for the Wilton Centre near Redcar .
CONSTRUCTION STARTS SOON FOR TECHNOLOGY TO SOLVE PLASTICS CRISIS
NEWS
TEES FIRM NAMED IN TOP 200 FEMALE-POWERED BUSINESSES Teesside-based JH Mechanical Services has been named in the UK ’ s Top 200 female-powered businesses in a report carried out by private bank JP Morgan .
The report , which ranked the Stockton firm 72nd nationwide , aims to identify companies where women have had an extensive role in shaping the strategy and success of the business , with rankings based on growth in sales , headcount and valuation .
The listing , which analyses more than 6,000 high-growth UK companies founded , led or managed by women , placed JH Mechanical Services third out of the seven North-East companies named in the list .
Plans to build the world ’ s first commercial-scale plastic recycling plant in Teesside using innovative hydrothermal upgrading technology have taken a major step forward .
Advanced recycling company ReNew ELP – based at Wilton Centre – has appointed Wood , the global consulting and engineering company , as its engineering , procurement and construction contractor on the multimillion-pound project .
The first phase will see the construction of one of four HydroPRS recycling lines , each able to process 20,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year . The remaining three lines will follow in quick succession .
On completion , the plant will recycle 80,000 tonnes of waste plastic , including packaging items such as flexible films , pots , tubs and trays , which until now have been considered unrecyclable .
They are currently incinerated , sent to
landfill sites or end up in the environment as plastic pollution . It is estimated that each year around 8m tonnes of plastic waste finds its way into the world ’ s oceans .
The plant will be built on the site of the former Invista Textiles plant at Wilton International , with the construction phase creating up to 80 jobs . A further 30 people will be employed when it starts operation in late 2022 , with more jobs created as additional production lines are added .
ReNew ELP ’ s plant will use a groundbreaking advanced recycling process called HydroPRS ( Hydrothermal Plastic Recycling Solution ) developed by UK-based Mura Technology , ReNew ELP ’ s parent company .
Mura ’ s ambition is to see a 1m-tonne global , annual recycling capacity in operation or development by 2025 , with the plant at Wilton being the first commercial-scale operation of HydroPRS .
FUTURE OF KEY SITES TO BE EXPLORED IN JOINT VENTURE
A partnership is being launched between Middlesbrough Council and Jomast Developments to find a future for some of the town ’ s most dominant yet unused buildings .
They are set to enter into a collaborative joint venture to explore new opportunities and potential external funding sources .
The first phase will look at four sites – Church House , Gurney House , the former Barclays Bank Building on Albert Road and land at Bridge Street East near Middlesbrough College .
The joint venture would not be a financial relationship and includes no undertaking for the council to commit direct investment .
REDCAR AND HARTLEPOOL NET £ 25M EACH IN TOWN DEALS
Redcar and Hartlepool have both been awarded £ 25m each in government funding to regenerate their town centres .
The towns both successfully bid for millions under the Towns Fund scheme .
The £ 3.6bn pot is designed to “ level up ” regions nationwide , with 100 boards at a local level invited to draw up investment plans for up to £ 25m from the fund .
The Redcar town board was established to come up with sustainable plans and representatives from across the community , including businesses and the private sector .
There will now be discussions on how to proceed with the proposals .
GUITAR SPECIALIST JAMES IS IN A DIFFERENT CLASS !
A physics teacher is swapping whiteboards for fretboards after taking up a new career as a guitar maker and repairer .
James McCue taught at schools including Hall Garth , Nunthorpe Academy and King ’ s Academy in Middlesbrough and English Martyrs in Hartlepool , but decided to give up the profession after becoming disillusioned with the direction education is taking .
He has now set up Agrajag Guitars in a workshop just beside Middlesbrough FC ’ s Riverside Stadium .
Just a few weeks after leaving the classroom , James is already taking orders for his hand-built electric guitars and carrying out repairs on both electric and acoustic instruments .
INVESTMENT READINESS PROGRAMME LAUNCHED FOR GROWING BUSINESSES
Tees businesses are being supported in raising investment capital to fuel their growth plans as they look to seize the opportunities in a post-pandemic world .
Through the Tees Valley Pitch Perfect – Investment Readiness programme , businesses with high-growth potential can secure access to a team of experienced investment professionals with a track record in helping entrepreneurs grow their ventures faster and further than they imagined possible .
The programme will be delivered by the Tees Valley Business Hub and forms part of the Teesside University Grow Tees Valley project .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 13