FEATURE
Teesworks – one of many developments which is making the Tees region a place to invest .
GOLDEN DAYS
Womble Bond Dickinson ’ s Stephen Hands and Peter Snaith reflect on 50 years in Teesside ’ s industrial heartland and look to the future
Stephen Hands , who joined Womble Bond Dickinson ( WBD ) as senior counsel earlier this year , brings an impressive wealth of experience to the firm .
Working closely with fellow Tees Valley expert Peter Snaith , the pair boast 50 years of combined experience , playing instrumental roles in Teesside ’ s industrial heartlands .
Stephen and Peter have spent a large portion of their careers in the Tees Valley – one of the most economically active regions in the UK – and bring unique insights on the evolving landscape .
Recalling when he started work in the area , Stephen said : “ Although both were in decline by then , [ the region ] had two incredibly dominant employers – the British Steel / Corus plant and ICI . Neither exists anymore , so there has been a fundamental shift in that landscape , a need for the region to adapt , which Teesside is excellent at , and a big growth in opportunity .”
Stephen , who spent more than 18 years at Sembcorp Industries , added : “ Having spent over 20 years working in Teesside , it ’ s been fascinating to see the cyclical nature of the industries based there , but also the progression and development of new industries attracted to the area .”
Peter , who began his career working at ICI , described Teesside as “ the bellwether of British industry ” at that time . As well as the steelworks , a stint at ICI was often a rite of passage for many and , according to Peter . “ You looked to see what was happening in the economy by what ICI was doing .”
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES Following the breakup of ICI and British Steel , Teesside was considered to be in decline , with unemployment and uncertainty dominating the local economy .
Stephen explained : “ The area has suffered a lot of challenges , not least because of the breakup of those two huge employers .
“ The knock-on effect for local people has been significant , coming to terms with the fact they no longer had a job for life , which was expected if you worked for British Steel or ICI .”
However , the end of Teesside ’ s domination by this duo of industry giants did not spell the end of the area ’ s time as an industrial hotspot .
For a range of sectors , Teesside is an extremely attractive option for investment . As well as landing coveted freeport status , the area is home to a range of major hydrogen , offshore wind , carbon cluster and nuclear projects .
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen has made significant steps in reviving struggling assets such as Teesworks and Teesside International Airport . And there ’ s the establishment of the government ’ s Treasury North at the economic campus in Darlington .
136 | Tees Business