NEWS
So much to offer businesses – Stockton-on- Tees Borough Council leader , Cllr Bob Cook , is singing the town ' s praises .
THIS IS THE
Wynyard Business Park - one of the borough ’ s excellent business locations .
PLACE
Council leader on why now is the time to invest in Stockton-on-Tees
“ Whether you ’ re a business looking for ready-made premises or for somewhere to establish a new base , you should look no further than Stockton-on-Tees .”
That ’ s what the leader of Stocktonon-Tees Borough Council , Cllr Bob Cook , told us when we spoke to him about the borough ’ s vision for inward investment .
“ Our strong industrial past remains with us , it ’ s part of our DNA , but now we ’ re working hard to diversify and show emerging sectors like energy and the environment , life sciences and biotechnology , as well as manufacturing and engineering , just how much our borough has to offer ,” Cllr Cook explains .
“ We ’ re very much open and ready to both welcome new businesses and help our existing ones grow . Stockton-on-Tees is a great place to do business , with great people and great places to live .”
The borough is already home to more than 5,000 businesses collectively contributing to around a third of the entire Tees Valley ’ s economic output .
With Leeds to the south and Newcastle to the north , direct rail links to London and Teesside International Airport on the doorstep , there is excellent connectivity for business , whether it be by road , rail , air or sea .
Combine this with easy access to the UK ’ s largest freeport , over 500 hectares of available land and competitively priced premises , businesses looking to establish a new base would struggle to find a more convenient location .
“ With a working population of 121,500 , increasing to more than 400,000 across the Tees Valley region , we have a vast pool of labour and talent to tap into . And with a real pride in the borough and a desire for it to succeed , you couldn ’ t get a more committed workforce ,” Cllr Cook says .
“ Just over a third of residents currently work in high-value professions and almost a third are qualified to degree level or above . We ’ re proactively upskilling our workforce too , supporting apprenticeships and in-work training as well as creating an Employment and Training Hub , which aligns employment and training opportunities for local residents with local business needs . “ It ’ s not all work and no play in our borough either ! This is a great place to live , with great housing and schools . Our six towns are undergoing exciting transformations , provide shopping , theatre , museums , entertainment and leisure attractions in among our countryside and parks . And , of course , running through all of this is the beautiful River Tees .
“ We ’ re also proud to say that there ’ s always something going on in the borough , with a packed programme of events and festivals throughout the year – you won ’ t be stuck for something to do .”
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic , businesses have continued to invest in the borough , but the council isn ’ t complacent and that ’ s why its regenerating its town centres while working with landowners and developers to make sure key business locations are designed and developed with the emerging sectors in mind .
Cllr Cook adds : “ But what we ’ re really encouraging through inward investment is inclusive growth . Economic growth and fairness of opportunity are not incompatible . Through driving forward inward investment across our whole borough , we will achieve not only more prosperity but greater equity of opportunities for our residents too – that ’ s what it ’ s all about really .”
For further information , visit investstocktonontees . co . uk The voice of business in the Tees region | 55