Ex-Nifco boss launches property franchise
/ STOCKTON NEWS
Serving the Teesside Business Community | 59
Warehouse is latest growth project for plastics firm
Work starts on the new warehouse at Icon Plastics:( from left) Operations director Phil Walker and MD Gareth Thomas with Sarah Thorpe and Peter Taylor of UK Steel Enterprise.
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precision injection moulding company that is fast becoming one of Teesside’ s success stories has started work on a warehouse extension to help meet the growing demand for its services.
Icon Plastics is building the 7,500 sq ft warehouse extension on its two-acre site at Eaglescliffe. The construction comes hard on the heels of £ 500,000 of investment in new machinery and equipment made during the past 12 months.
The company specialises in plastic injection moulded components and assemblies to customers in sectors from automotive, agricultural, health and construction to defence and electronics, often winning contracts against stiff national competition.
Icon Plastics purchased its own premises
PROTEIN SUPERSTORE OPENS about three years ago with the help of a £ 200,000 investment from UK Steel Enterprise, the Tata Steel business support subsidiary, and has since gone from strength to strength.
Managing director Gareth Thomas, who bought the company in 2008, said:“ Since we received the finance we have increased our workforce from 25 to 60, have almost doubled our injection moulding machine capacity from 16 machines to 28 and are operating 24-hour shifts five days a week.
“ Having struggled with premises it was a huge relief to get into our own factory and the two acre site has given us room for expansion including the new warehouse which will make a big difference to us.”
The company also attributes its success to investment in the most efficient manufacturing equipment, including robotics, and to bringing in plastics sector specialists and investing heavily in training for all employees to ensure it has the necessary skills.
£ 17 MILLION HILTON HOTEL PLANNED
Plans are being proposed for a new £ 17 million six-storey Hilton Hotel in Stockton.
Planners say the distinctive development, which will target business travellers, could create up to 100 jobs and bring £ 6.7m into the local economy.
A full planning application has been launched – and work could begin this summer.
The 125-bedroom hotel, on the former dairy site on Church Road in central Stockton, will have a 24-hour fitness suite and a contemporary office and meeting space.
The site of the proposed hotel forms part of the Northshore regeneration scheme, which incorporates new offices, homes and leisure facilities within walking distance of the newly regenerated town centre.
The 56-acre, £ 300 million scheme is a partnership between Muse Developments, the Homes and Communities Agency and Stockton Council.
Another new store has been opened in Stockton town centre.
Protein Superstore was officially unveiled by the mayor of Stockton, Cllr Ken Dixon.
Protein Superstore, the North East’ s largest independent supplement provider, has opened the shop at 6 Wellington Street, which was formerly occupied by Newboulds.
The shop is Protein Superstore’ s third in the North East and all supplements are currently buy one, get one half price.
Also on offer to customers are fresh, nutritional fruit smoothies and clothing.
/ TeesBusiness
Green light for multimillion pound leisure centre
Plans to build a new leisure centre at the heart of Ingleby Barwick have been given the green light by councillors.
The multi-million pound leisure facility, which will be located on the All Saints Academy site, was approved by Stockton Council’ s planning committee.
It will include swimming pools, a health and fitness suite, gym, community access library and customer service point.
Construction is due to start this year and the building, designed by Ellis Williams Architects, is scheduled to open to the public in winter 2018 / 19. It will be operated by Tees Active Leisure, which already operates three centres in the area on behalf of Stockton Council.
@ Tees _ Business
Ex-Nifco boss launches property franchise
A Teesside businessman, who started his professional life as a nurse and went on to manage Nifco, has become the first franchisee of a national property company. Jeremy O’ Connor has launched Adore Properties in Stockton thanks to the area’ s buoyant housing market.
The businessman, from Ingleby Barwick, has invested in the region of £ 75,000 and created four new jobs at Adore, based on Harper Parade in Hartburn.
Adore was established in the North West in 2011 and, thanks to its success over the last five years, the business is expanding around the country.
Teesside was selected as the first franchise location because of its varied property market.