FEATURE
Morale – bosses go to great lengths to make Durata a fantastic place to work .
Sparking staff to life
How Durata is adding social value to its business
WORDS : PAUL FRASER
If you head down Ironmasters Road from Middlesbrough ’ s Cannon Park roundabout , take a look to your left after reaching the brow of the hill , you will see the blue , white and black branding of Durata standing clear . It ’ s a prominent logo on the Tees AMP unit at Wilfred Whitfield Way and one that has become more and more distinguishable in recent years , given the company ’ s rising profile , particularly after sponsoring local sports teams and athletes .
And having firmly established itself nationally as effective specialists in critical power infrastructure , what is not as wellknown is just how much effort now goes into making Durata a fantastic place to work .
“ We want people to grow with us ,” said Alison McGee , the quality director .
“ We have always wanted to help our staff but we now feel we have a team who have embraced our ethos and are progressing as people as well as employees of Durata .”
It is all about adding social value to the business and creating an atmosphere where staff feel like they can develop in whatever direction they want .
Kaitlyn Sedgewick was brought in as a business administration apprentice . Her time in that role is coming to an end and Durata have enrolled her on courses through partners so she can focus on sales and marketing .
Durata ’ s purchasing administrator Jasmine Smith was brought in five years ago as a business admin apprentice . Working with policies , systems and processes , Jasmine has realised she has a passion for accounts so she will soon start on a new educational path while working for the business .
And Dylan Lewis , who graduated as an electrical engineer , is being helped through Durata ’ s graduate programme so he becomes fully chartered . Despite only joining the company in the summer , he has quickly adapted to using the relevant software .
Kaitlyn , recently nominated for an apprentice of the year award , said : “ I have loved working at Durata . What ’ s nice is that
84 | Tees Business