PICTURE : CHRIS BOOTH
GROWTH TO ASPIRE TO
Fit for expansion – Aspire Technology Solutions sales manager Justin Godfrey ( left ) with head of product and solutions Ben Upton and Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen .
Aspire Technology Solutions set to create jobs with Teesside expansion
A firm tasked with bringing digital connectivity to the Teesworks site has moved into new offices in Stockton .
North-East tech giant Aspire Technology Solutions - launched 14 years ago by Chris Fraser and Nigel Begg - now employs more than 180 people and has set ambitious plans for improving digital innovation across the region .
One of the UK ’ s fastest-growing business communications and cloud service providers , Aspire was named Company of the Year at the North-East Business Awards 2020 .
And as part of its growth on Teesside , it has now moved into the Fusion Hive business and innovation centre on Stockton ’ s Northshore – a complex built specifically as a hub for growing digital and tech companies .
Aspire ’ s expansion into Teesside follows the company ’ s plans to open a new HQ at the Pipewell Quay development , located on the site of the former Baja Beach Club on Gateshead Quays .
The new offices will enable the company to expand within the North-
East and increase its workforce in the process . The company plans to create over 150 new local jobs .
Aspire launched its own full-fibre North-East network in 2018 after investing millions in local infrastructure . Known as Ultrafast Dedicated Connectivity ( UDC ), it offers North- East businesses internet connectivity of up to 100 gigabits per second - some of the fastest speeds and one of the most reliable services available in the UK .
And one of the most recent locations to benefit from Aspire ’ s ultrafast connectivity solutions is the iconic Steel House at Teesworks . The building is being redeveloped to become the new base for the full transformation of the 4,500-acre site , home of the UK ’ s biggest freeport .
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said : “ Digital connectivity is at the heart of our long-term plans to grow our economy in response to coronavirus .
“ Having widely available , high-speed , affordable and reliable connectivity will help our businesses to go further faster , and we ’ ve seen how vital this is during the pandemic . Aspire have already made great progress towards improving digital innovation across the region .
“ I ’ m delighted to welcome them to Steel House and the region , where they ’ ll create good-quality , well-paid jobs for the people of Teesside , Darlington and Hartlepool .”
Aspire was recently appointed by Newcastle City Council to deliver a next-generation full-fibre network serving hundreds of public sector sites across the region . The infrastructure built by Aspire will enable many offshoot connections to be built across the North-East , making it easier for suppliers to offer cost-effective fibre broadband to the wider community .
Aspire sales manager Justin Godfrey said : “ At Aspire , we are dedicated to delivering technology like no other . We have ambitious plans to improve the connectivity and cloud performance available to Tees Valley businesses .
“ Our new office based in the technology hub of Teesside is perfectly geared to help us deliver our plans , so we are really excited about the move .”
64 | Tees Business