FEATURE
Top brass – Geneva Group’ s Robin Winspear with Mandale’ s Joe Darragh at the Portrack premises that could be the launchpad for a musical instruments’ manufacturing revolution on Teesside.
Below: Trumpeter Mark Crown of hit band Rudimental is one of Geneva Group ' s regular customers.
OUR NEW BASE IS top of the
brass!
Property experts Mandale have hit the right note for the Geneva Group by leasing new Teesside premises to the musical instrument specialists – and talks are now underway for the building of a new manufacturing base that could create hundreds of local jobs.
Sounds of the trumpet, cornet and horn will be heard from the old Bandland music shop after Geneva Group moved into premises off Stockton’ s Portrack Lane. Geneva design and manufacture woodwind and brass instruments from their two factories in the Czech Republic for customers across the globe, but their new premises are part of a plan to achieve significant growth on Teesside.
Their all-star cast of clients includes trumpeter Mark Crown of top drum and bass band Rudimental, who’ ve enjoyed a trio of UK number one singles and have twice hit the top of the album charts.
CEO Tim Oldroyd, who started his business from a garage in Skelton, now runs a multi-million pound business, employing 270 people in the Czech Republic.
Now he’ s ready to focus his musical revolution back on the North-East, with plans to make the Portrack base a springboard for a new industry back on Teesside, potentially creating hundreds of jobs.
Yorkshireman Tim settled in East Cleveland after meeting and marrying wife Karen, from Lingdale, but is ready for a big UK sales push after admitting he’ d taken his eye off the ball locally.
He says the new premises will act as“ the perfect shop front” for his ambitious plans, with seven staff initially employed at the new Stockton premises.
Joanne Behan, Geneva Group’ s marketing and publicity manager, says the new showroom will be the interactive focal point for performances, workshops and demonstrations.
“ It’ s a showroom but it’ s not just about selling instruments,” she
said.“ We want it to be more like a hub, which we’ re calling the Geneva Band Room.
“ We’ re planning to get local bands and other musicians we work with to come along and perform, host recitals and demonstrations.
“ We have such a lot going on, which is what attracted us to the premises. Bandland had such a great following among musicians so it would have been a shame to lose it when the owner retired.
“ But the building is a lovely, big space so it’ s ideal for us and all that we’ re planning to do. It’ s in a fantastic spot, too, and Mandale made it so easy for us to move in.”
Joanne added:“ The Band Room will be fantastic but we’ re looking on this as a stepping stone because Tim wants us to start manufacturing in the region.”
While Geneva have signed a ten-year lease for the showroom, talks are underway for Mandale to create a bespoke, state-of-the-art manufacturing unit.
Mandale property specialist Joe Darragh said:“ When Bandland owner Pete Webster told me he was retiring, I was putting up‘ To let’ signs outside the building when Geneva’ s Robin Winspear pulled up.“ He was driving around looking for new property and couldn’ t believe his luck. I showed him around and we literally shook hands on a deal there and then.
“ Now we’ re in talks about building them a big manufacturing unit on Teesside. If that comes off – and I’ m confident it will – then it will be fantastic for the region.”
An open day is being held at the Geneva Band Room on Saturday August 18, from 10am till late, featuring live music throughout the day. Entry is free and open to members of the public.
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