SBP NEWS The Newsletter for Seaham Business Park
Gordon MacPherson Jnr and John Dunnill (front L-R) with Sarah Slaven, Cllr Carl Marshall and Maven’s Ben Jones
SPONSORED BY
Issue 3 | January 2018
SEAHAM FIRM IS FIRST TO BENEFIT FROM FINANCE DURHAM
Maven Capital Partners makes first Finance Durham fund incubator investment in training management software startup Moralbox. Finance Durham - a new investment fund managed by Maven Capital Partners - has completed its first incubator investment of £40,000 in Moralbox, based at the Novus Business Centre on Spectrum Business Park in Seaham. The technology start-up helps employers and employees to work together to manage training records and requirements. The investment will help Moralbox to further develop the technology platform’s functionality, enabling the business to enter new markets, promote the software, and employ a full time sales team. Finance Durham was launched earlier this year by Business Durham, the economic development organisation for County Durham, on behalf of Durham County Council. Moralbox has designed a web-based software platform which creates a centralised training
and certification profile of each employee, helping employers to analyse and manage their workforce training records and staff certification programmes.
million Finance Durham fund from the 10% of the fund which has been ring-fenced specifically for incubator investments to support innovation.
Founders, Gordon MacPherson Jnr, Gordon MacPherson Snr and John Dunnill, have between them almost 50 years’ experience in health and safety training management and software development.
Sarah Slaven, interim managing director of Business Durham, said: “We’re always keen to support innovation in County Durham and this funding will allow Moralbox to combine the experience and skills of its founders and reach new markets by developing this exciting technology further.
Gordon MacPherson Jnr, who also sits on the SBP steering group, said: “We’re delighted to secure an incubator investment to support the innovation and growth of our business. We’re passionate about our technology and believe we’ve created a system that will revolutionise the way employers manage their training. The funding will allow us to scale up by employing extra sales staff to market our product and enter new markets.” The funding was secured through the £20
“Durham is home to many innovative companies which are able to take advantage of a range of support from finance, links with universities and links to the thriving network of like-minded business people in the county. We look forward to continuing our support for Moralbox as the company grows.”Pictured: Kareen James-
For further information on theRawson Finance Durham fund, visit www.mavencp.com.
We’re leaders of the pack when it comes to talent acquisition and development... With a proven track record in the industrial and manufacturing sectors, we can help you and your business attract and retain the best candidates in the market place.
SBP News is sponsored by Aspen Wolf | 0191 581 1000 | acquiretalent@aspen-wolf.com | www. aspen-wolf.com
HIGH FLYING AND HIGH
SPEED AT SPECTRUM
Spectrum Business Park goes from strength to strength as it invests in high speed broadband and new aerial photography to promote its stunning location. As well as being a thriving business community, Spectrum Business Park boasts views you don’t see every day. That’s why developer Paul Wellstead has invested in a new suite of aerial shots of the park to help sell the benefits of moving to Spectrum. The marketing initiative comes just weeks after the park’s latest high profile tenant, Northumbrian Water, settled into its new offices at Spectrum 5.
And as part of ongoing enhancements to the business park, Spectrum is now delivering high speed, private internet connections to its tenants. Gateshead firm Aspire Technology Solutions has been brought on board as Internet Service Provider, delivering leased lines to a number of firms that have chosen to make Spectrum their base. The leased lines provide dedicated, fixed bandwidth connectivity for fast and secure data transfer.
Paul Wellstead (left) with Aspire’s Oliver Birleson
SEAHAM BUSINESS COMMUNITY GROWS AS GROUP CELEBRATES FIRST BIRTHDAY Seaham’s business community has benefited from major investment and job creation in the last 12 months.
Members of the SBP and PBP steering groups
The Seaham Business Park Group was launched in October 2016 to encourage businesses to work together and create opportunities to help the area prosper.
Northumbrian Water moved onto Spectrum Business Park in June, accommodating two of Spectrum 5’s three floors and occupying 27,000 sq ft of prime office space.
Driven by a steering group of Andrew James Worldwide, Seaham Safety Services, Aspen Wolf and Spectrum Business Park, the area has attracted major inward investors including Northumbrian Water and FM Coatings, while existing employers including Great Annual Savings Group and House of Mooshki have continued to expand.
The offices house around 200 highly skilled employees including Northumbria Water staff and framework partners. The announcement came just months after Hull-based ResQ moved onto Spectrum. The company has outlined plans to eventually house a 1,200-seat contact centre at Spectrum.
SEAHAM FIRMS THRIVE AT
DURHAM OKTOBERFEST Aerial Quality Solutions
GROWTH AND OFFICE MOVE
FOR ASPEN
WOLF TEAM Expo’s first Incubator Zone yields over 150 leads for small and growing County Durham firms. The North East’s biggest manufacturing & engineering exhibition, has delivered its first Incubator Zone, aimed at helping small businesses exhibit for the first time. 21 firms signed up to Durham Oktoberfest’s support package, funded by ERDF and delivered by LEC Communications & Design with the team at Business Durham’s Durham Business Opportunities Programme. Peterlee and Seaham firms, included Shred Direct, Moralbox,
Baseline Technology, Harbro Electrical and Aerial Quality Solutions. Michael Lawson, who co-owns Seaham-based drone video and mapping technology firm Aerial Quality Solutions, said: “This was our first experience of exhibiting and it’s given us a great experience and insight into what’s involved, not just on the day but how to prepare for the event and how to follow up leads afterwards. We’re hopeful that our leads will convert to new business.”
AUTUMN BREWING CO SET FOR LONDON EXPANSION
SPONSORED BY
The Aspen Wolf team
Training and recruitment specialist Aspen Wolf is rounding off a successful 2017 with the announcement of a major national contract. The company, which is the exclusive sponsor of SBP News, has been contracted by a Leeds-based distribution company, which supplies furniture to homes across the UK. As part of the contract, Aspen Wolf will supply drivers and fork lift truck operators to two main depots.
John Chilton and Peter Briggs
Seaham firm has teamed up with Dam Tasty Beer. A brewery that caters for beer drinkers with wheat intolerance is set for expansion outside the region after teaming up with a top London distribution firm. Autumn Brewing Co, based at Spectrum Business Park, has seen demand for its gluten-free drinks increase after investing in two dedicated fermentors at its Castle Eden Brewery, serving up a significant increase in capacity. Now the firm is developing
opportunities outside of the North East as a result of a new partnership with London based craft beer distributor Dam Tasty Beer. Business development director John Chilton said: “The listing of our Alt Brew beers with Dam Tasty comes on the back of significantly increasing the number of outlets around the North East over the last six months and gives the company a presence in the South East of England where the gluten-free market is more established.”
The contract win comes just months after the company moved into premises at Lighthouse View on Spectrum Business Park to facilitate its growth. Joint managing director Dave Rowlands said: “It’s been a fantastic year for us as we’ve seen our portfolio of clients grow considerably, not just here in the North East but nationally too. “Earlier this year we decided to move into new office space, complete with brand new training facilities which we feel will enable our long-term plans to continue to grow. We’re ambitious and forward thinking so Lighthouse View is the right fit for us.”
Aspen Wolf, which was set up by Dave and his wife Donna after they amalgamated two existing businesses to offer clients a more streamlined service, now employs 8 people including an apprentice and supports businesses within a diverse range of sectors including manufacturing, logistics, retail and customer services. Alongside sponsorship of SBP News, the Aspen Wolf are also a member of the Seaham Business Park Group with Donna sitting on the steering committee to drive forward the development of the area. Donna added: “Seaham is undergoing massive growth which is great to see. I think people are really sitting up and taking notice of Seaham as a business community, which is why so many companies are choosing to locate here. “We are very much looking forward to being involved with the group next year and doing our bit to put Seaham on the map for all of the right reasons.”
OVER 100 NEW-BUILD HOMES FOR SEAHAM
BIG INVESTMENT AT SEAHAM HALL HOTEL
SPORTS CENTRE WINS NATIONAL AWARD
A £97 million investment in 695 new homes across County Durham is to include 116 in Seaham.
Seaham Hall Hotel has unveiled multimillion pound expansion plans.
A new water sports centre in County Durham has won a prestigious national planning award.
The site for the new homes, at Heathway, will provide 116 two, three and four bedroomed houses in the Parkside area. There will be 108 properties for sale, including three at 30% below market value for local people who qualify, plus eight for affordable rent. The £16 million initiative is being delivered by the Durham Villages Regeneration Company (DVRC), a joint venture between the county council and Keepmoat Homes.
The five-star boutique hotel is proposing to build 24 luxury holiday lodges in its grounds, within a newlydesigned landscape setting. The estimated construction cost is £4m over a six to nine month build period. The scheme will create between 50 and 75 direct construction industry jobs over the lifetime of the build, along with a further 75 to 115 indirect supply chain and new jobs over the same period. The intention is to submit a formal planning application to Durham County Council by the year end.
The centre, at Seaham Harbour Marina, picked up the Chair’s Award at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) North East Awards for Planning Excellence. The awards, which took place in Newcastle in October, celebrate outstanding projects that demonstrate the power of planning. The centre, which opened in July, was funded by the Coastal Communities Fund, Durham County Council, Seaham Harbour Community Interest Company and Sport England.
The Business Energy Efficiency Project helps SMEs in County Durham to make financial savings through energy generation and reduced energy consumption. Businesses receive fully funded energy audits and may be eligible for grant support which can be used to reduce the payback period of the cost of equipment*.
Upgraded insulation and efficient boilers Save £££’s
Receive free advice
For more information, please contact the BEEP team at beep@durham.gov.uk. *Terms and conditions apply
business energy efficiency project
0191 587 8165 | info@seahambusiness.co.uk | www.seahambusiness.co.uk
Seaham Business Park Group, working in association with: