Let ’ s keep the positive momentum flowing
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WELCOME
Let ’ s keep the positive momentum flowing
GUEST FOREWORD by Dr Bill Scott OBE DL
CEO , Wilton Engineering
HIGHLIGHTS
14-17
MAKIN IT BIG ! How Bob ’ s hobby-turned-career is bringing talent to Teesside
TEESWORKS FROM THE START Step-by-step guide to transformational project
26-29
31
READY FOR TAKE-OFF ! £ 4bn construction contracts selected
130-143
TEES BUSINESS AWARDS 2024 Highlights from the region ’ s leading business celebration
Welcome to the latest issue of Tees Business , which once again proves why it ’ s the recognised voice of business in the region with another bumper edition , packed with Teesside positivity .
I do believe there ’ s every reason to be positive right now . I was keynote speaker at a recent Make UK event when business leaders in the room were asked to raise their hands if they were feeling confident about their business right now . It was reassuring to see 90 per cent of hands shoot up . When the question became how they felt about the year ahead , just about everyone in the room raised their hand .
Everyone I speak to , apart perhaps from the chemical sector , tells me they ’ ve never been busier .
As part of Wilton Engineering ’ s 30th anniversary celebrations ( which you can read about on pages 44-45 ), we recently opened an apprenticeship academy .
It ’ s been great to see so many other companies following our lead because we all need to recognise that the skills we once took for granted aren ’ t there right now , so we have to invest in our young people to ensure we ’ re all in the right place to make the most of the opportunities coming to the Tees region . In this issue , you can also read about
TALKING UP YOUR BUSINESS
the success of the second annual Tees Business Awards . I was delighted to see Lionweld Kennedy crowned Tees Business of the Year .
I recently approached their MD Dave Robinson for help with a community project and he insisted they would build a new boardwalk for schoolchildren to take water samples that will be installed with the help of another local firm , WoodSmith , who will assist with civil works , on a pond at Flatts Lane while Wilton Engineering have designed it , will project manage and install it . It was typical of the sort of collaboration and teamwork that makes Teesside special . The awards also saw Bob Makin of games developer Behaviour Interactive made Business Leader of the Year . For too many years , Teesside was overreliant on ICI and British Steel , but tech and games firms such as Bob ’ s business , Double Eleven , and many other marketleading companies are reminders of what a diverse economy we now have in our region .
It ’ s really exciting to see and is why companies from Newcastle and Yorkshire want to be part of the renaissance that ’ s happening here .
They can see that something special is going on and it ’ s so important we all continue to build on that in the months and years ahead .
Tees Business is published quarterly for circulation across Middlesbrough , Stockton , Redcar & Cleveland , Hartlepool and Darlington , as well as Wynyard , Stokesley and East Cleveland .
4,000 copies of Tees Business are distributed across the region ’ s business community , with views of our digital version taking average readership beyond 20,000 .
See teesbusiness . co . uk for our media pack Call 01642 450255 or email info @ teesbusiness . co . uk for more details .
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Tees Business | W : teesbusiness . co . uk | Tel : 01642 450255 | Email : info @ teesbusiness . co . uk Plenary BV House , Queen ’ s Square , Middlesbrough , TS2 1PA Published & distributed by : Resolution Media & Publishing Ltd | resolutionpublishing . co . uk Executive editors : Martin Walker and Dave Allan . Editing assistance : Michael McGeary . Designed by : KINSHIP , sarah @ designbykinship . co . uk
The voice of business in the Tees region | 5