REDCAR AND CLEVELAND NEWS
New £ 5.25m Nova Pangaea investment to accelerate business growth .
Nova Pangaea Technologies – the Teesside-based clean tech business – has raised £ 5.25m in a funding round as it moves towards building its first commercial plant .
The funding round has been led by Mercia Asset Management , Par Equity and NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance , which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund ( NPIF ), with private investors also participating .
Nova Pangaea ’ s patented process converts woody and agricultural residues into highvalue sustainable products that are used to manufacture sustainable aviation fuel and a range of biochemicals .
The process also produces Biochar , which is crucial for carbon dioxide removal and soil enhancement .
Investment – Peter Taylor of investor UKSE ( centre ) with Marc Atkinson ( left ) and Chris Davis of Safer Work , the Tees-based company behind the National Safety Passport .
UKSE investment backs Redcar firm ’ s expansion
A
company providing online safety training internationally has secured a five-figure investment from UKSE to continue developing its National Safety Passport ( NSP ).
Safer Work , based in the UKSE Innovation Centre at Redcar , says NSP is the quickest and most cost-efficient health and safety passport available today .
With 21 learning modules mapped to industry standards and EMSS approved , the training can be accessed online by individuals and groups and is now available in five languages .
The UKSE funding is helping Safer Work to redevelop its technology platform and software , as well as continue its expansion into new industry sectors .
Aimed initially at high-hazard industries , a recent successful move into the manufacturing sector has included working with major companies .
“ Contractors operating in industry
sectors , from sole traders to SMEs and subcontractors , are required to show safety credentials before going on site ,” said director Marc Atkinson .
“ It is vital that we keep abreast of all changes in legislation and best practice , ensuring that workers hold the most up-todate information to keep them safe .
“ Our highly knowledgeable team here is supported by experienced health and safety professionals in various industry sectors .
“ The redeveloped platform will give us the opportunity to add additional products and services , including a subscription-based model .”
Safer Work ’ s turnover has increased every year since the business started in 2011 .
It operates internationally , including in Japan and America , and the current team of three is expected to grow soon .
For details of UKSE ’ s support for businesses , visit ukse . co . uk or call 01642 777 777 .
Major engineering firm takes up space at Tees hub
One of the UK ’ s leading engineering and construction companies has revealed plans to create a legacy on Teesside – centred on its new hub at the Wilton Centre .
Costain – which is playing a key role in the Net Zero Teesside Power and Northern Endurance Partnership projects , led by bp – has occupied 5,000 sq ft of office space and meeting rooms with an initial team of 30 , including its delivery partners as well as bp team members .
But the firm expects the number of employees to double during the coming year .
Costain will also be responsible for providing the CO2 pipeline connection for H2Teesside , bp ’ s world-scale hydrogen project .
174 | Tees Business
Academy throws open doors to hundreds of pupils
Hundreds of students became the first to take advantage of the all-new Teesworks Skills Academy building , as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week .
The building was used by 200 Year 9 to Year 13 pupils for five days of activities to hone their entrepreneurial skills , with Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen also visiting .
The week allowed young people to meet employers and explore their expectations and requirements when recruiting , including the importance of attitude to work and team building .
Activities also included practical advice and experience to explore how selfemployment can be a real option for young people when they leave full-time education .
Boulby mine reaches production milestone
Latest financial results from the parent company of the world ’ s first and only producer of the groundbreaking mineral polysulphate , at the Boulby mine in East Cleveland , have revealed a significant increase in production .
Figures for the third quarter ending in September show Boulby ’ s production increased by nearly ten per cent year-overyear as sales continued to improve on higher prices and volumes .
So far this year , a record of more than 800,000 tonnes of polyhalite – marketed as Polysulphate – has been hoisted at Boulby .
Polysulphate provides a unique combination of sulphur , potassium , magnesium and calcium . It is currently sold across five continents .