PANTHER GROWTH
Seaham logistics firm triples space as it nudges to £ 100m turnover
rapidly-expanding two-man delivery
A service specialist has increased its footprint in Seaham amid a sales boost .
Panther Logistics has taken a 133,000 sq . ft . warehouse at Foxcover Distribution Park in Seaham after outgrowing its 42,000 sq . ft . space at Follingsby Park in Gateshead , which Knight Frank acquired for Panther in 2017 .
Panther started off with five staff , 40 deliveries a day , a £ 3m turnover and a 12,000 sq . ft , warehouse in Peterlee , in 2013 .
Rapid growth saw the firm move to Follingsby Park in Gateshead and five years later they need to triple their space to support 180 staff and 1,300 daily deliveries , while steering towards a £ 100m expected turnover .
Due to a chronic shortage of industrial properties in the North-East , competition for the Foxcover high bay distribution warehouse was fierce , with two companies going down to the wire in the hope of securing it .
Director of home delivery at Panther Logistics , Chris Holmes , said : “ A lot of our original team from when we were based in Peterlee stayed with us when we moved up
to Follingsby in Gateshead so it ’ s great for them to be working closer to home again . “ The new unit is already operating at capacity so the future is looking bright and we are excited to be going from strength to strength .”
Partner at Knight Frank , Mark Proudlock , who struck the deal , said : “ The occupier market is incredibly strong and available industrial and logistics space in the region is scarce .
“ We were up against tough competition for this unit and we are delighted to have secured it on behalf of our client as a platform for their continued growth .”
Panther Logistics needed the additional space to be able to expand its offering to clients – from just delivering their domestic goods , to also tipping containers for them , storing the products , and delivering them to the end user .
The firm recently started covering Scotland and the Foxcover facility will service two of their major clients – home gym specialists , Ifit , and suppliers of cooking appliances , extractors and plasma filters , Kitchen Ex .
East Durham news
Smart thinking for SMS as it targets double growth
A company which provides quality and recruitment services to automotive , aerospace and rail manufacturers , utilising technology , has announced ambitious plans to double its turnover .
Smart Manufacturing Solutions ( SMS ) started with just three people when it launched in November 2020 , when the country was in the thick of the global coronavirus pandemic .
Bosses are now aiming to take the business to the next level , with plans to increase turnover from £ 1.6m to around £ 3.2m by expanding its client portfolio , staff and inspector headcount .
First heat pump training centre opened in the North-East
£ 10.2m Peterlee care development is completed
A £ 10.2m scheme which allows residents to live independently , with the reassurance of an on-site care team is preparing to welcome its first residents following project completion .
Poppy Dene in Peterlee is a purpose-built development offering 71 one and twobedroom apartments for rent , to people over the age of 55 .
The scheme has been delivered by Housing 21 , a national leading provider of Retirement Living and Extra Care , in partnership with Durham County Council and housing developer and construction specialists , Vistry Partnerships North East .
Sustainable materials firm snaps up site at new business park
A sustainable materials company has snapped up new premises at Jade Business Park in Murton near Seaham .
Durham law firm Swinburne Maddison has concluded work in record time for Sphera to occupy its 11,195 sq ft site .
Now , fit out works are due to be carried out at the semi-detached industrial unit , which will create a purpose-designed space to facilitate Sphera ’ s ambitious business development plans .
The company recently secured £ 1.9m funding to support its vision to be a world leader in low-carbon materials innovation .
A Peterlee firm has opened its doors to deliver qualifications in the installation , servicing and maintenance of Air Source Heat Pumps ( ASHPs ), helping trades people in the area take advantage of growing demand for low carbon , cost-effective heating .
The first heat pump training centre in the North-East , Go Green Training in Peterlee , is the brainchild of Brian Wear and Lee McCann , who have over 40 years of ASHP installation experience between them .
Go Green Training Academy can help plumbing and heating engineers in the area by delivering fully certified LCL Awards ASHP qualifications .
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