Tees Business Tees Business Issue 14 | Page 69

Serving the Teesside Business Community | 69 / MIDDLESBROUGH NEWS GRADE II LISTED BUILDING IS THRIVING AGAIN Food waste will be turned into power for the next generation of Tees Valley manufacturers when Ener-G Riverside Park Biogas creates a £25m anaerobic digestion plant at the forthcoming TeesAMP advanced manufacturing park. The plant will use a series of biological processes to break down food and manure, producing methane gas that will be fed into the national grid and power local businesses. #TalkingUpTeesside Commerce House in Middlesbrough is now a thriving business hub after a £1.2m renovation. A n iconic Teesside building, which has spent the last year undergoing an impressive £1.2m renovation, is now filling quickly, with new tenants finding their businesses booming. Commerce House in Middlesbrough has had life breathed back into its Grade II Listed structure by Commerce Chambers. A whole host of fully furnished and serviced office space is available for immediate use, ideal for small businesses up to 14-desk rooms. There is also an unbelievably chic business lounge, where old meets new, creating a relaxing yet professional environment. The building, which was originally built in 1872, is in the heart of the city’s soon-to- be thriving commercial district TS1, is right next to the train station and just a stone’s throw from the A66. Every office comes complete with access to all the high-class facilities and high-speed broadband included. There are also a number of offers available on a first-come, first-served basis – some of which have been already snapped up by new tenants HR Alchemy, Certax Teesside, NEECC, Department of International Trade, STO Consulting, Vanquish Steel, Hainton and Smart Pads Real Estate. Christine Huntington, facilities manager at the building, which was purchased from the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: “There is real luxury on offer here, which creates the right impression for visiting clients. “The hot desk facilities and virtual office service are both in demand already too.” Information and appointments can be made by calling Christine on 01642 917116. Images are available to view on Facebook @CommerceHouse1872 or at www.commerce-house.co.uk Kings of customer service Ambitious plans for £55m TeesAMP park Ambitious plans to develop the £55m TeesAMP advanced manufacturing park have been submitted to Middlesbrough Council. Developers of TeesAMP – which will bring forward-thinking businesses and up t o 1,000 jobs to the Tees Valley – have submitted plans for the 11-hectare site. The first phase of development includes 180,000 sq ft of high quality manufacturing and office accommodation across 17 buildings. Hunters Estate Agents won The British Property Awards for Middlesbrough after judges said their staff “performed outstandingly”. The Hunters team impressed throughout the extensive judging period, which focused on customer service levels. Hunters have now been shortlisted for a number of national awards, which will be announced later in the year. AV DAWSON SUPPORTS MILITARY A major Middlesbrough logistics company has signed a pledge to support ex-members of the armed forces to find work in their sector. AV Dawson, which employs 240 people in the Tees region, has signed an Armed Forces Bronze Covenant to ensure there is complete fairness and respect in the communities where the personnel live, as well as local job opportunities. It has also pledged to encourage more logistics businesses to see the potential of former military personnel with their in-depth practical training. RETAILER PUTS BEST FOOT FORWARD National shoe retailer Charles Clinkard has polished up its first ever store, by investing £150,000 in a makeover of its Middlesbrough branch. The Corporation Road site was the first Charles Clinkard store to be opened in 1924 and it even narrowly missed a WW2 bomb blast by just a few yards. The investment in the store has seen all the existing departments moved downstairs and the addition of a new ‘clearance’ floor upstairs.