The voice of business in the Tees region | 7
/NEWS
BUSINESS BITES
Ambition – Bill Scott is hoping to
attract a major investor to Teesside.
TEES RAIL IMPROVEMENTS
Train operator Grand Central has announced
further details of a number of station
investment schemes.
A raft of schemes are now underway
at stations along Grand Central’s North-
East and West Riding routes – part of the
company’s ongoing investment to enhance
customer experience on board, online and
at stations.
The improvements, which are due to
be completed in early 2020, will see a
revamp of the facilities in stations including
Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe and Thirsk.
AIRPORT SHOWCASE
EXCLUSIVE:
Bill focused on winning ‘massive’
environmental investment
B
ill Scott says he will do all he can
“We had a fantastic meeting of like-
to bring a “massive environmental
minded people, and I assured them that the
investment” to Teesside, after the
Tees Valley is the place to do business.
business leader met foreign investors about
“What I told them is that the Tees Valley
their multi-million pound plans for a series
has the multi-disciplined skills to design,
of plastics recycling plants.
build, install and commission the project
Bill, the owner of Port Clarence-based
right here on Teesside – that they don’t have
Wilton Engineering, says the investors
to go anywhere else.
are “passionate about
“I made it clear we
saving the world” – and
had the people, the land
are keen to explore the
mass, the government
potential for Teesside to
“We had a fantastic devolution and a Tees
be the hub to design,
mayor who is
meeting of like-minded Valley
build and commission
passionate about making
a series of plastics
people, and I assured things happen.
recycling plants.
‘If you’re going
them that the Tees to “I do said,
A “phone call out of
this anywhere,
the blue” led to Bill – the
Valley is the place to Teesside has the
recipient of an OBE last
prowess and heritage to
do business.”
year - meeting the main
do it.”
investor and his team of
Bill, a former winner
financiers in London in
in the annual Tees
November.
Business poll for the
Following “a fantastic meeting”, the
Most Inspiring Business Leaders, invited
investment team is now keen to make a
the potential investors to Teesside.
fact-finding visit to Teesside in the near
“I told them that my only ask is that they
future.
consider bringing this project to Teesside
“These people genuinely want to save
first. They want to come here as soon as
the world and they have the money to
possible to look at the options.
do it,” said Bill, talking exclusively to Tees
“I’ve told them that they must come up
Business co-editor Dave Allan. “They are
here, see what we can offer, sit down and
passionate about giving and making a
discuss how we go forward from here. They
difference to the environment. And they are
understand that they will be welcomed to
in a position to do it.
the Tees Valley with open arms.
“Our conversation quickly went from
“We are talking about a potential
talk of a single plant to about 20 globally.
investment of many millions of pounds, so
We were talking about all things big and
I’ll do all I can to bring it here.”
beautiful.
Teesside University supports nearly 3,000 jobs
and contributes £125m to the economy.
Teesside International Airport and Balkan
Holidays welcomed more than 50 travel
agents from across the North-East to
showcase opportunities available at the
airport.
Guests were given a tour of the airport’s
facilities ahead of presentations by Teesside
International Airport and Balkan Holidays,
which will resume its holiday charter flights
from Teesside International Airport once
a week during summer 2020 to Bourgas,
Bulgaria.
TEESSIDE STROKE CLUB
Members of a Teesside stroke support
group are the first people to benefit from
a pioneering rehabilitation technique that
academics hope will speed up recovery
from the devastating condition.
Teesside Stroke Club – the latest
recipients of an award from the Tees Mutual
Community Fund – have been trialling
groundbreaking methods that Teesside
University researchers believe could
dramatically improve their prospects of
getting better.
The £410 grant will buy three exercise
desk bikes so members can use the
methods at home. Tees Mutual is owned
by its 8,000 members and provides funeral
savings policies, savings plans and income
protection.
INNOVATE SUCCESS
Hundreds of companies were helped
to innovate and grow thanks to a
groundbreaking partnership led by Teesside
University.
The Innovate Tees Valley project, which
began in November 2016 and has now
ended, also helped businesses in the region
develop 144 new products and create more
than 40 jobs.
As a result of its success, a new three-
year support programme will be announced
shortly. Companies are being encouraged
to contact the university if they would like
to take advantage of its services.
#TalkingUpTeesside
#TalkingUpTeesValley