Issue 54 | Page 16

Husqvarna manufacturing director Caraline Robinson and Aycliffe Business Park Community ’ s Martin Walker with Husqvarna employees ( back , left to right ) Connor Noble , Rebeca Foi , Baljinder Singh and Tom Baxter . Pic by Tom Banks .

MAKE YOUR

Husqvarna revealed as headline sponsors for Aycliffe ’ s relaunched awards

MARK

Husqvarna has been revealed as the headline sponsors of Aycliffe Business Park ’ s Make Your Mark awards .

The Make Your Mark awards – organised by Aycliffe Business Park Community ( ABPC ) – will return in 2022 after a threeyear hiatus , with a glamorous ceremony to be held at the 17th century , listed Redworth Hall Hotel next May .
And iconic robotic lawnmower manufacturer Husqvarna has agreed to be headline sponsors for the event , with more big businesses already joining the queue to sponsor other categories .
The firm ’ s manufacturing director Caraline Robinson said : “ As a business we decided it would be nice to get involved in something that is to celebrate what ’ s going on in the local community
“ A lot of companies have been through some really difficult times over the last couple of years , so it ’ s good to bring a focus on some positive aspects of business in the local area .
“ There are some companies locally doing some really exceptional work , around the training of people and trying to develop people .
“ There ’ s so much good about what ’ s going on locally and it ’ s a great opportunity to shout about that .
“ It really was a no-brainer for us to get involved .”
Around 400 permanent staff , and between 450 and 500 temporary seasonal workers , are employed at the Preston Road site on the Aycliffe Business Park – with no less than 50 apprentices recruited in 2019 .
Husqvarna has also invested heavily in new technology as the firm prepares to start manufacturing its own battery packs while bringing a new commercial lawnmower online in 2022 .
Caraline added : “ This is our build ahead time . We ’ re just starting to ramp up our recruitment ahead of our busy period . “ But we ’ ve invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in new technology and training and start manufacturing our own battery packs next year .
“ We ’ re also gearing up to start production of the Ceora model , which is a robotic lawnmower for commercial