VIP – Sedgefield MP Paul Howell , pictured with Julie Raistrick , visited Finley Structures in August to mark the firm ’ s 20th anniversary . Picture by Tom Banks .
orders , the temporary staff are being made permanent .
“ During lockdown , we ’ ve won five new jobs , and there are others pending , so it ’ s worked out really well ,” says Julie . “ I ’ m really proud of the staff and the way they ’ ve adapted .”
The workforce includes some staff who have been with the company ever since it was founded by Julie ’ s father , John , with the help of mum Val , after he ’ d been made redundant . His response was to buy a van , begin working for himself as a steel erector , and start building the reputation that has become the foundation of the company ’ s success .
It is testament to John ’ s hard work and reliability that he was able to launch Finley Structures , with 20 staff , on the former National Coal Board site at Tursdale , near Bowburn . Within two years , the company had already outgrown the site , and the move to Aycliffe was a stroke of good fortune .
John was driving along Whinbank Road when he saw an 87,000 sq ft site – once home to British Steel – being emptied by its latest tenants , Alexander-le-Skerne . A deal was done , Finley Structures made the move to Aycliffe , and has continued to grow ever since .
It was never going to be a case of Julie being handed the family silver – she had to earn respect in a man ’ s world by starting at the bottom . Having been a YTS trainee at Black and Decker , at Spennymoor , then spending five years working for a printing company at Sunderland , she joined Finley as a general dogsbody .
“ It was a baptism of fire because it was a male dominated
world ,” she admits . “ I wasn ’ t just female – I was the boss ’ s daughter too .”
But a steely determination , coupled with a sense of humor , enabled Julie to build credibility with “ the lads ”. By gaining experience in all aspects of the business , including payroll , training , and health and safety , she became an all-rounder . She was made a director in 2006 before succeeding her dad as MD . During its 20 years , the business has compiled an impressive project list , including : the Hitachi plant at Aycliffe ; Nissan ’ s Leaf battery plant ; Nifco ’ s factory at Eaglescliffe ; Teesside University ’ s futuristic Curve building ; the Unipres factory at Washington ; and the Victoria Gate shopping centre , in Leeds .
And Julie also has responsibility for other family businesses : the ROF 59 leisure centre ; a property investment company ; and SCH Site Services , where her brother , Gary , is MD .
She is also director and company secretary of another Aycliffe steel fabrication company , Raisco , founded by her husband , Gary , in 2007 .
Thanks to coronavirus , the 20th anniversary year hasn ’ t turned out as expected . With the order book bulging like never before , it should have been an easy ride – a chance to sit back and plan for the future .
But the challenges of Covid-19 have simply served to bring out the inner steel in Finley Structures . “ The reason we ’ ve been able to move forward despite the pandemic is because we ’ ve established a solid customer base , a loyal workforce , and a reputation for quality and reliability ,” says Julie .
“ In tough times , that ’ s where our resilience has come from – and it ’ s made me more determined than ever to build on what we ’ ve got .”
Here ’ s to the next 20 years …
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 19