The Newsletter for Seaham Business Park

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BY

Issue 2 | Jun-Sep 2017

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Pictured:

Kareen James-Rawson

SPECTRUM WELCOMES NORTHUMBRIAN WATER

Northumbrian Water (NWL) has chosen Spectrum as the base for its Framework Partnerships, which sees a number of organisations working together to deliver vital water infrastructure projects in the region.

The company will accommodate two of the Spectrum 5’s three floors, occupying 27,000 sq ft of prime office space. Once finished, the offices will house around 200 highly skilled staff and framework partners Esh/MWH, Interserve and MMB.

Paul Wellstead, the property developer of Spectrum Business Park, said: “Securing Northumbrian Water as our newest tenant is a real coup for the park and demonstrates just how far the park has come since I started creating my vision over 10 years ago.

“It’s also testament to the improvements which are evident, and the investment made, across Seaham, which is now home to some

of the region’s fastest growing companies. My hope is that having Northumbrian Water occupy two floors of Spectrum 5 will generate interest from some of its partners, and the remaining floor will become occupied.”

John McGovern, head of asset delivery at Northumbrian Water, said: “This move will create one central hub for our infrastructure teams and gives us the opportunity to work closer with our partners under one roof.

“Moving into Spectrum 5 will strengthen the collaborative working relationships we have and ultimately help deliver an unrivalled service to all our customers.

“After looking at a number of locations around the North East, we felt Spectrum Business Park ticked all the boxes in terms of location, quality of office space, transport links and parking, which were major influencing factors given how many people will be based here.”

Robert Patterson, head of agency at Sanderson Weatherall, who were the agents on the property, said, “We are delighted to have assisted Northumbrian Water with their office move. Spectrum Business Park is proving to be one of the most desirable places to work in the North East and following this significant letting it is great to see the park over 75 per cent occupied.”

The Northumbrian Water announcement comes just months after Hull-based ResQ moved onto Spectrum. The company has already recruited 250 people with 250 jobs in the pipeline, with their plan to eventually house a 1,200 seat contact centre at Spectrum.

Paul added: “The park is filling up quickly and we only have one fully unoccupied building on Spectrum. My aim is to find suitable tenants for the remaining space and push the site through to full occupancy, which will be a remarkable transformation for the site.”

Spectrum Business Park, one of the region’s fastest growing business parks has secured

its biggest private sector tenant as Northumbrian Water confirms move to Spectrum 5.

Robert Patterson

from Sanderson

Weatherall, John

McGovern from

Northumbrian

Water and

Paul Wellstead

from Spectrum

Business Park

Nala Engineers, based on Tempest Road, was named in Ward Hadaway’s list of ‘Fastest 50’ growing companies of 2016.

Nala, founded in 1979 by Dave Pollard and his wife, Pat Pollard, specialises in retail, commercial and industrial electrical installations and has carried out work for a wide range of companies including Caterpillar, Aldi and Matalan.

Dave and Pat’s daughter, Nicola Duke, is a director at Nala. She said: “Last year was extremely busy for us and we experienced growth over and above projections.

“This year it’s all about tapping into new markets and focusing on developing our marketing strategy. We’re looking at ways to strengthen our client base during 2017 before planning further growth in 2018.”

East Durham Business Service (EDBS) has secured funding for a three-day course, Boost your Business, which will be held at locations across the North East.

The course, accommodation and meals will be fully funded and delegates will walk away with two recognised enterprise qualifications.

Business owners and managers will also have the opportunity to meet and network with 30-50 other local professionals.

The course has been put together by the North East Enterprise Agency Limited (NEEAL) in conjunction with the European Social Fund, Skills Funding Agency, Gateshead College and New College Durham.

Boost Your Business will take place at various locations across the region.

For further information, or to book your place, please contact Hina Joshi on email hina.joshi@edbs.co.uk or call 0191 5863366.

A Seaham based electrical contractor is targeting new

markets after a year of unexpected growth.

Business owners are being given the chance to gain

qualifications which could help their companies grow.

FAMILY FIRM CELEBRATES AFTER YEAR OF GROWTH

FULLY FUNDED COURSELAUNCHED FOR BUSINESSESASPEN WOLF

CELEBRATESANNIVERSARY

Nicola Duke

with Dave and

Pat Pollard

Hina Joshi (third

from left) with the EDBS team

Members of the Aspen Wolf team have signed up for this year’s Great North Run.

Donna Rowlands and Laura Armstrong are taking part in the gruelling 13.1 mile-run on September 10. Donna is fundraising for the Siberian Husky Welfare Society while Laura is supporting Epilepsy Society UK.

Donna and Laura alongside colleagues Sarah Matthews, whose father in law has just passed away from cancer, and Kirsty Campbell will also

complete the 10k Race for Life in June to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

Donna said: “Running is such a good way to keep fit and it also allows us as a company to do our bit for charity. The charity I’ve chosen is close to my heart as Dave and I have two huskies and we know what a fantastic job they do.”

In July fellow director Dave Rowlands is completing the Coast to Coast bike ride, raising awareness and funds for Prostate Cancer.

The company, based on Spectrum Business Park, was set up by husband and wife team Donna and Dave Rowlands, just over a year ago. Since its inception the firm has grown steadily from four to seven employees, with the team due to welcome its first apprentice to the administration department.

A successful move into the professional sector, placing candidates within the engineering, manufacturing, and construction sectors,

is also a contributor to the company’s growing portfolio.

The firm also announced in May that it had been successful in achieving a place on the national Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) as a supporting provider.

By offering a unique and blended training service Aspen Wolf are looking forward to working with employers and main providers to deliver a new style of apprenticeships.

CHARITY EFFORTS

Training and recruitment firm Aspen Wolf has forecast significant growth over the next 12 months and aims to double its turnover.

SPONSORED

BY

Dave & Donna Rowlands

with the Aspen Wolf team

A new bus travel initiative will benefit hundreds of workers who travel to Spectrum Business Park.

Are you looking to expand your team? Would your business benefit from taking on a 16-24 year old?Then DurhamWorks can help your business grow whilst giving a young person a foot on the career ladder.

The project is part of Durham County Council’s initiative to help get young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) into work.Nina Canavan and Emma West are DurhamWorks business advisers. Nina said: “We offer

support to businesses every step of the way - initially in putting together recruitment advertising and helping with finding the right candidates for the role.”

To find out more about the support, call Nina or Emma on 03000 262 930, email the team at employability@durham.gov.uk or visit the DurhamWorks website at durhamworks.info.

Arriva has launched a simple

payment scheme that aims to help hundreds of people save

money as they make their daily commute to work.

By paying for their bus travel via monthly direct debit, employees can save up to £201 a year*.

Paul Wellstead, developer of Spectrum Business Park, said: “We are confident that Arriva’s new travel club will bring huge benefits to those who travel into Spectrum every day. We’re excited to see the scheme take

off and seeing people getting on board and enjoying what it has to offer.”

Tracy Thorpe, from Durham County Council’s offices at Spectrum, said: “The scheme is valuable to members of staff at Durham County Council. Those who use Arriva services really benefit from the discount.”

*To find out more about the scheme and for information on buses in and out of the park, visit arriva.co.uk/spectrum or email coatmanl@arriva.co.uk.

SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR GROWING EMPLOYERS

NEW TRAVEL SCHEME TO BENEFIT EMPLOYEES

Nina Canavan (left) and Emma West (right)

A Seaham dog grooming salon has

taken on a new recruit with the help

of the DurhamWorks programme.

Tails, based on Tempest Road, has experienced a period of rapid growth in its first year of trading and asked DurhamWorks to assist in the recruitment of a new dog groomer.

Debbie Johnson, one of the company directors, highlighted the problems of taking on new staff due to the lack of trained groomers.

Through DurhamWorks, Debbie was introduced to 22-year-old Yasmin Tomlinson, who is now working for Tails as a dog groomer.

An exhibition of music themed

photography, sculpture and painting

was put on display at Spectrum.

The Spectrum Cultural Hub, based next to House of Mooshki, opened the display of work called OTTAVA during March and April.

Phil Barker, who runs the gallery, said: “The exhibition brought together the work of new and established artists, using many different media as a response to the subject of music.”

The exhibition was also featured in a video interview for The Photographic Artists Review, presented by Mara Acoma.

DOG SALON HAS A GREAT TAIL TO TELL

SECOND EXHIBITIONFOR SPECTRUM HUB

Yasmin Tomlinson (left) and Debbie Johnson (right)

HR expert Alison Schreiber is to share

her expertise with businesses in the

Seaham area.

Alison, who runs the Durham and Darlington branch of the HR Dept, will supply topical industry blogs which will be shared online and on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

It comes on the back of her successful partnership with the Peterlee Business Park Group, which has been running for 18 months.

Alison’s blogs offer businesses invaluable guidance and case studies on issues affecting them. You can read them at seahambusiness.co.uk now.

HR BLOGGER EXPANDS TO SEAHAM

Alison Schreiber Phil Barker

Spectrum

Business Park

Seaham Business

Park Group, working

in association with:

0191 587 8165 | info@seahambusiness.co.uk | www.seahambusiness.co.uk

Durham County Council’s new Business Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP) is a three-year initiative which has been built

to generate financial savings for SMEs through energy savings.

The scheme is an independent service which aims to generate financial savings through reduced energy consumption or generation.

In partnership with Business Durham, FSB, NEECC, and Northern Powergrid, participating SMEs are not charged for the service, as all

costs are covered by Durham County Council and the European Regional Development Fund.

The project operates a grant fund which is used to reduce the payback period of installations, but the grant is available on a first-come-first-served basis so once it’s gone it’s gone*.

The project has been financially supported through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the council.

To find out more, please contact the BEEP team by email at beep@durham.gov.uk.

COUNCIL LAUNCHES NEW BUSINESS ENERGY SCHEME

*Subject to application terms and conditions.

ResQ’s original Hull site reached full capacity last year with more than 670 employees.

The new site already employs 250 people and is on track to double in size with the launch of the new South Wing.

ResQ’s Seaham site is one of County Durham’s largest ever inward investments, with hundreds of jobs to be created over the next three years, allowing the firm to support its latest contract wins and kick-start plans for further growth this year.

Elsewhere on the park, Great Annual Savings Group will open the doors to its new ‘GAS Group Academy’ on 1 June, two years to the day since moving to Spectrum.

The academy will offer 20 apprenticeships with plans for more intakes on a regular basis.

The B2B cost reduction firm has chosen to expand its multi-award winning apprenticeship scheme to facilitate its next stage of growth, which has seen it named on the Centrica Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list already in 2017.

DOUBLE JOBS BOOST AT SPECTRUM AS FIRMS EXPANDContact centre firm ResQ is hiring 250 people as part of its plan to develop a 1,200 seat facility at Spectrum.