Peterlee news
Plant-based food
fuels Peterlee revival
ENGINEERING TRAINING EXPERT
JOINS BUSINESS GROUP
A
group which champions business
growth and development across
Peterlee has added a prominent
businessman to its number.
Andy Buckworth, who is centre manager
at TTE in Peterlee, which specialises
in fabrication, welding and business
improvement techniques, has joined the
Peterlee and Seaham Business Group’s
steering committee.
And he is committed to taking the
experience he has gathered in many years
promoting apprenticeships and training
for the engineering sectors, into further
spearheading East Durham’s business
growth.
Andy said: “I am delighted to be asked
to join the Peterlee and Seaham business
steering committee and hopefully do my bit
to support our area’s continued growth.
“There are so many fantastic things
happening across East Durham, but there
is still so much more that can be done to
support business growth, including bringing
industry and education together.
“That is something I am hugely passionate
about.
“In my time at TTE, I have been very
impressed with the drive and determination
of businesses in the area to celebrate their
success and shout about everything that’s
fantastic about East Durham’s thriving
business community, which perhaps people
don’t fully appreciate until they come here.
“Hopefully my involvement in the group
will enhance that.”
The committee is made up of East
Durham business representatives who
share a common desire to support the area’s
continued development and prosperity.
Andy was tempted back to TTE at the
start of 2019 to head up the East Durham
facility, which is the former Infinite Learning
and Development centre
He joins co-chairmen of the committee
Paul Wellstead, developer of Spectrum
Business Park, and Kareen James-Rawson
from Novares, alongside representatives
from Seaham companies Great Annual
Savings Group, Aspen Wolf and Moralbox,
and Peterlee businesses Steadfast Group and
LEC Communications and Design.
Kareen James-Rawson said: “Andy is a
fantastic guy who has made real efforts to
embed himself within the community and
understand the opportunities and challenges
which are present here.”
The Peterlee Business Park Group was
launched five years ago while the Seaham
group came about in 2016 because of the
demand from businesses in the area to have
their own support group.
To find out more, visit peterleebusiness.
co.uk or seahambusiness.co.uk.
OLD SOLDIER’S NEW
TRICKS REAPS REWARDS
They say you can’t teach an old dog new
tricks but former military man Mike
McGaun has disproved that claim by
securing millions of pounds in contracts for
Peterlee’s Steadfast Group thanks to newly-
found tender writing skills.
The 53-year-old – 30 years a soldier and
officer in the British Army – joined Peterlee
security company Steadfast less than two
years ago as business development manager.
But after a
course teaching
him the art
of writing a
successful tender
bid, he has
secured contracts
worth more than
£2m for Steadfast.
Read more at wear.business
A boost to Peterlee’s economy can be
expected throughout 2020 as Heather
Mills’ VBites business, in the former
Walkers Crisps factory, begins to scale up.
A few dozen staff are already working
at the Stephenson Road site but that
number is ultimately expected to rise to
nearer 300 as the vegan business comes
fully on line.
Ms Mills took over the 180,000 sq ft
factory in November 2019 and is now
hiring workers and overseeing the fit-out
ready for the production of VBites’ new
range of vegan sausages and burgers
made from plant-based proteins.
POSITIVE ABOUT
THE FUTURE
Peterlee training company Positive
Futures is looking to grow in the
wake of a six-figure investment
from the North East Growth Capital
Fund.
The company works with local
authorities and further education
colleges across the region delivering
bespoke vocational training courses
and qualifications.
The company was only launched
in 2016 but is hoping to increase
its annual income to more than
a million pounds in the next five
years.
wear.business – the voice of business for the Wear region
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