Seaham news
Seaham cyber company shows care for community
Pioneering Power Roll receives investment to create new Seaham base
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company whose new product could revolutionise the solar panel market is setting up a new base in Seaham .
Power Roll has developed a unique , flexible , lightweight solar film capable of producing ultra-low-cost green electricity that is up to 20 times cheaper to make than existing flexible solar photovoltaic ( PV ) technologies .
And now , helped by a £ 2.8m investment , which includes £ 250,000 from the Finance Durham Fund , the company - a developer of ultra-low-cost and lightweight flexible film for energy generation and storage - is pressing ahead with ambitious growth plans .
The investment will support the construction of a solar film pilot plant in Seaham , further improve the efficiency of Power Roll ’ s solar film technology and help commercialise its capacitor technology with its joint venture partner .
Power Roll ’ s technology simplifies
Sarah Slaven , interim MD at Business Durham with Power Roll MD , Neil Spann .
manufacturing by eliminating multiple , expensive process steps that other PV technologies require , and uses high-speed roll-to-roll production processes .
The company ’ s technology was invented by its chief scientist Dr Alexander Topping - originally from Seaham , County Durham , and an ex-Oxford University lecturer with over 25 years ’ expertise in specialist coatings .
Power Roll ’ s film is suitable for nonload-bearing rooftops , building integration , transport , portable applications , off-grid projects and IoT sensors , and can also be used for energy storage and to manufacture capacitors .
Neil Spann , MD of Power Roll , said : “ The success of our funding round and the quality of our investors reflects the global commercial potential for our technology .
“ There ’ s huge potential for solar and energy storage in a vast range of new applications .”
Seaham-based cyber-security firm CyberWhite was entered into the UK ’ s Social Mobility Awards in the Small Business category on the strength of work it is doing to genuinely promote social mobility seriously .
Before lockdown , CyberWhite was regularly giving young people and school leavers first-hand experience of the world of work at their office at Seaham .
Company co-founder David Horn is a mentor and speaker with both Founders4Schools and Business in the Community , which are charities that help students work through their career choices .
Managing director Matt Hewison is also active locally , coaching several under-13s football and cricket teams .
Multi-million-pound heritage works continue in Seaham
Seaham ’ s Spectrum Business Park continues to grow
Supermarket will help supercharge Dalton Park
The former Andrew James Worldwide office building on Seaham ’ s Spectrum Business Park has been sold to a business centre development company , Parman .
The recently completed move is expected to see the building redeveloped as a large , fully-fledged business centre , which is run by Paul Wellstead .
It is one of a number of moves in recent months which have seen Spectrum Business Park continue to progress as a destination site for major businesses , including Great Annual Savings and Believe Housing .
The opening of a Morrisons supermarket at Dalton Park will provide a major boost to the attractiveness of the Murton retail park as a customer destination .
Shoppers have waited years for the firm to move to the retail park , after previous plans were shelved , leaving its expected home empty .
But company bosses confirmed that a new store at Dalton Park was on their shopping list . It is expected to become one of the big draws at the popular East Durham retail centre .
Spectrum Business Park developer Paul Wellstead said : “ The park continues to attract business interest despite a challenging year for the region and the country economically .”
Work continues to enhance Seaham ’ s rich heritage as part of a £ 2.25m regeneration scheme .
Durham County Council launched the Seaham Townscape Heritage Project last November after securing a £ 1.6m grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund towards the works .
The project is aimed at breathing fresh life into Seaham ’ s historic town centre and focuses on the regeneration of targeted properties in the Church Street area .
It also helps to encourage pedestrian movement around the centre , boosting footfall and aiding the town ’ s recovery from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic .
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