STOCKTON NEWS
NEW JOBS AS ‘ BIOCAMPUS ’ IS LAUNCHED
A
world leader in biotechnology development – including the manufacture of a coronavirus vaccine – has officially launched its new Billingham BioCampus .
Boosted by £ 3.6m from the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority , Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies supports partners in the biopharmaceutical industry with the development and production of their biologics , vaccines and gene therapies .
It most recently hit headlines as it began manufacturing the Novavax coronavirus vaccine at its Billingham base .
Phase one of the recently completed BioCampus development includes a 42,000- sq ft , purpose-built office accommodation and visitor centre , with land also made ready for subsequent construction phases . These are expected to include additional research and development laboratories and new manufacturing facilities .
The £ 3.6m investment has safeguarded 150 jobs and has helped create 22 new roles . Along with £ 2.6m of funding for Fujifilm , a further £ 1m was also invested in the surrounding road infrastructure to help deliver the project .
Earlier this year it was announced that part of a £ 600m “ game-changing ” investment would be made into the region ’ s factory , which currently employs around 850 people , to help it increase its gene therapy production and capacity in other operations .
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said : “ Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies is a massive asset to not just our biologics sector but to our region as a whole and this is just the latest good news story to come out of the business .
“ Our investment into its expansion represents how vital it is and I ’ m delighted this first phase has now been completed .”
ICELAND MOVES TO NEW , BIGGER STORE
Food retailer Iceland is the latest retailer to open in Stockton ’ s Wellington Square , moving from its previous home in the Castlegate Centre as part of Stockton Council ’ s ambitious plans to transform the town .
Iceland takes up the former Lidl unit in a space that is around 2,000 sq ft larger than its previous home .
The retailer is relocating after the council bought the Castlegate Centre and Swallow Hotel , with plans to demolish the site to make way for Stockton Waterfront .
Demolition work is set to begin early next year after the relocation of tenants is completed .
Pool to relocate as part of amended waterfront plans
Plans to reshape the development of council facilities have been announced , including a new leisure centre alongside a new library , customer service and register office building on the Stockton waterfront site .
Stockton Council originally revealed plans for the ambitious £ 32.3m waterfront development in February 2020 , to enable the demolition and redevelopment of the Castlegate Shopping Centre and multi-storey car park and the Swallow Hotel to create the Stockton Waterfront site .
The authority submitted the plans in March but now plans to amend them , relocating public services to the southern end of the High Street and investing in new health and leisure facilities .
Wellbeing specialist offers mental health workshops to SMEs
A wellbeing specialist is supporting a charity that helps businesses recover from the pandemic .
The business-led , not for profit Open North Foundation , provides grant aid and support to small firms in the North- East hit by Covid-19 from donations provided by fellow businesses based in the region .
Bethany Ainsley is offering a series of wellbeing workshops to SMEs , as well as targeted mental health and wellbeing assistance to qualifying beneficiaries .
Through her Wynyard-based business OptiMe , Bethany will run workshops on combating stress , mindfulness and selfconfidence for success .
STOCKTON CAN THRIVE , SAY VIDEO MAKERS
Stockton High Street is evolving , not dying – that ’ s the message from the second series of Humans of the High Street , as businesses begin their recovery from the pandemic .
The new YouTube series , from Stockton Business Improvement District ( BID ) and OOK creative marketing agency , explores how businesses are coping .
Stockton businesses took part in a series of video interviews a year after the first series documented the thoughts and feelings of company owners on whether they would survive the impact of Covid-19 .
For more information , visit stocktonbid . co . uk or Stockton BID ’ s Facebook , Twitter and Instagram channels .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 127