I
’ m delighted to provide the guest foreword for a fantastic publication which is really helping to put Aycliffe Business Park on the map . I am delighted I have been able to base my constituency office here on the business park – I love being here , and being part of the business community .
I am next door to Gestamp and it was a pleasure to visit them recently . I was hugely impressed by their facilities and the investments they ’ re making in state-of-the-art technology . There ’ s more about that later in this issue .
I have been frustrated by Covid in the number of businesses I have been able to visit , but as lockdown releases I hope to get to many more of the fantastic companies , large and small , we have on the park . If you would like me to visit your business just drop us a line .
I write this foreword just as news broke about County Durham ’ s City of Culture bid for 2025 – which , for me , is fantastic news .
There ’ s so much in this county that ’ s fabulous . We sit between the conurbations of the Tees Valley and Tyne & Wear , but – as we emerge from the pandemic – we need to shout even more about County Durham . I applaud the new leadership at Durham County Council for picking this bid up and moving it forward and while Aycliffe wasn ’ t specifically mentioned in the City of Culture bid , it will play an integral part . The bicentennial celebrations of the
HELLO
GUEST FOREWORD
AYCLIFFE BUSINESS
Aycliffe Business is Newton Aycliffe ’ s only business publication , which is mailed exclusively to companies on Aycliffe Business Park .
Launched in November 2012 , we provide firms with a unique platform to tell everyone about their services and success stories in our prestigious , high-quality publication .
With an estimated readership of more than 8,000 , copies are mailed direct to every company on our database , and the rest are distributed by hand across the park as well as nearby hotels , restaurants and conference centres .
Our next issue will be out in early September , and the deadline to book is 5pm on Friday , August 20 . To get involved in the next or any future issues , email martin @ aycliffetoday . co . uk .
FROM PAUL HOWELL MP
Welcome to the 52nd issue of Aycliffe Business .
Darlington to Stockton railway – which , of course , started in Shildon and passed through Aycliffe – is a major part of the culture bid . Winning the bid will also bring more people into the county for tourism , which means more money spent in our local shops and pubs , so it would be fantastic for the local economy .
Even bidding helps us get some messages out about how fantastic our area is – it will help us enhance the perception of our county to the outside world . Some investors in the south don ’ t know about the opportunities that exist here , the fantastic quality of life opportunities and some of the amazing , futuristic work that ’ s going on here in Aycliffe and at NETPark in Sedgefield . The City of Culture bid would put us on their radar , and they might take a closer look at the investment potential in County Durham .
But I ’ m preaching to the converted here – we all know how fantastic our county is ! I ’ d urge everyone to get behind the bid and support Durham County Council in any way you can .
It ’ s always imperative that we all broadcast all our successes and good news . I try my best to shout up for our area at every opportunity – Aycliffe Business certainly plays its part and I look forward to it landing on my door mat . I ’ m sure you do , too . Paul Howell MP Conservative , Sedgefield
Aycliffe Business Units 8-9 , Parson ’ s Court , Welbury Way , Aycliffe Business Park , Newton Aycliffe , Co . Durham DL5 6ZE
www . aycliffetoday . co . uk
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Business manager : Sharon Hutchinson Tel : 01325 728024 Mobile : 07940 870310 Email : sharon @ aycliffetoday . co . uk
Managing editor : Martin Walker .
Contributors to this issue : Peter Barron , Martin Walker , Kerina Clark , Tony Thompson , Julie Turnbull .
Our photographers : Graeme Rowatt ( including cover ), Chris Booth .
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CONTENTS
Included in the July- August 2021 issue of Aycliffe Business …
05 FORNAX FUTURE
Aycliffe waste facility will help power NHS , says company founder
08 BACK TO THE FUTURE
Cobots Online answer some of the questions around collaborative robots
11 GESTAMP OF APPROVAL
Sedgefield MP impressed after visiting Aycliffe ’ s biggest employer
16 MAKING IT … POSSIBLE
Aycliffe manufacturers are among a host of North-East companies benefiting from world-class support from the SAM Project
20 PARK EXPANSION
Exclusive : Forrest Park plans are full steam ahead after £ 13m infrastructure works completed
22 SUCCESSION PLAN
Experienced solicitor takes up lead commercial role with law firm
28 ACCREDITATION ’ S WHAT YOU NEED !
Compliant is delivering the standards for success needed by businesses across the North-East
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 3