HARTLEPOOL It’s the perfect time to become part of our story
“Hartlepool has a remarkable and distinctive heritage and our ambition is that the town will be a vibrant, welcoming and inspiring place to live, work, invest and grow up in. The transformation has already started and we hope you will want to be a part of it.” Councillor Kevin Cranney, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Regeneration Services Committee
“Hartlepool is already a hub for some major global businesses and we are working hard to attract further investment in the town. We pride ourselves on providing top quality education for our children and young people and investors can be confident we can provide a high quality workforce so they can successfully grow their businesses here.” Gill Alexander, Chief Executive, Hartlepool Borough Council
Welcome | 3
Welcome to
Hartlepool Hartlepool is experiencing a revival and is fast becoming a fantastic place to live, work and invest. It’s the perfect time to become part of our story. From humble beginnings as a small fishing village on the North East coast, Hartlepool has grown to become the important town we know today. A successful port shaped through industrial revolution, Hartlepool has worked hard to constantly reinvent itself and is now a hub for some major global businesses. Hartlepool is an exceptional place with a remarkable and distinctive heritage and we are shaping an exciting future for the town which we hope you will want to be part of.
There has never been a better time to invest in Hartlepool.
4 | Culture & Tourism
“We have exciting plans to develop the Hartlepool Waterfront site and our long-term aim is to develop the area with a mix of visitor attractions to complement the wider Hartlepool Marina area and the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool.� Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council
A new sculpture has been installed in honour of Sir Ridley Scott, who studied in the town
Culture & Tourism | 5
A growing cultural
economy
One of the largest towns in the North East, Hartlepool has a rich heritage linked to the sea which has helped to create many of the attractions on offer here today. We are currently investing in an exciting regeneration programme encompassing our best loved areas and attractions and our links to the sea also enable us to host major maritime festivals. Hartlepool is bursting with places to come and explore and visitor numbers have been rising year-on-year. There has never been a better time to invest in our cultural economy. The National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool Borough Council is working in partnership with the National Museum of the Royal Navy to ensure the town has a visitor destination of national significance. The National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool is host to HMS Trincomalee, the oldest warship still afloat in the UK. Driving into the Marina you are greeted by the spectacular sight of her masts rising high above the quayside. Visitors can explore the ship and wander through the history of Hartlepool’s waterside heritage.
Hartlepool Marina Surrounded by a bustling strip of bars, restaurants and shops, this award-winning harbour offers 500 fully serviced pontoon berths and is the perfect place to meet up with friends. Visitors can also try their hand at the various water sports on offer.
Middleton Grange Shopping Centre One of the largest shopping centres in the North East, Middleton Grange attracts 9.5 million shoppers every year. The shopping centre is home to more than 150 shops and employs 550 people, making it the retail hub of the town.
Seaton Carew No trip to Hartlepool is complete without a visit to the seaside resort of Seaton Carew. Visitors can take in four miles of spotless sandy beaches, ramble through the dunes, or stroll along the promenade. Construction is about to be completed on a £1.3 million scheme to revitalise the seafront. A new outdoor leisure park is being created on part of the promenade and this will include a children’s water play area. A new sculpture by the Hartlepool artist Stuart Langley reflecting the town’s maritime and industrial heritage will also be installed.
6 | Culture & Tourism
Hartlepool Waterfront
Innovation and Skills Quarter (ISQ)
We have exciting plans to develop the former Jacksons Landing site which was purchased in 2013. The long-term plan is to develop the fiveacre site as a landmark destination with a mix of civic, cultural, leisure and visitor attractions to complement the restaurants, cafes, bars and shops within the wider Hartlepool Marina area. Proposals for this waterfront area also include a 4* hotel. Recently, the regeneration of Hartlepool Waterfront received a major boost with the announcement of a series of interim development projects. A water activity centre and public realm works to create grassed areas, a sculpture trail, boundary seating and new LED lighting aim to provide “a statement of intent” for the future transformation of the site.
The ISQ aims to revitalise the Church Street area and develop a thriving creative industries quarter based around Cleveland College of Art and Design’s new campus. The former Post Office building in Whitby Street is being refurbished and extended to turn it into a centre for business start-ups in the creative industries sector. Called The BIS – ‘creating Businesses through Innovation and Skills’ - the £3 million centre will be run by the Council with support from Cleveland College of Art and Design. A further £3.4 million is going into Church Street itself and Church Square.
“Hartlepool Borough Council has done a fantastic job in investing in a master plan which looks at every corner of the town and it has committed to making improvements within the town centre that form strengths in tourism and also customer experience.” Mark Rycraft, Manager, Middleton Grange Shopping Centre
Culture & Tourism | 7
St Hilda’s Church Visitor Centre Hartlepool began as a Christian settlement and a town developed in the 7th century sited around Hartlepool Abbey. The monastery became famous under St Hilda, who served as its Abbess, and today St Hilda’s Church stands strong and proud on the site of the medieval abbey. The interactive visitor centre offers a tour through the history of the church and Hartlepool Headland.
Summerhill Country Park and Outdoor Nature Reserve Located on the site of an Iron-Age settlement, visitors to Summerhill can lose themselves in the peace and quiet of 100 acres of sprawling countryside. Walking in the footsteps of some of Hartlepool’s earliest settlers, visitors can enjoy two ponds with viewing platforms, two children’s play areas, a BMX track, eight large climbing boulders and a number of sculptures around the park.
Heugh Battery Museum RSPB Saltholme A faithfully restored 19th century coastal defence battery, this attraction boasts a unique history having been the only area to have seen ship-toshore combat during the First World War. The exhibits tell the story of those who lost their lives and the brave men who defended the area.
A stunning nature reserve set in the industrial heart of the Tees Valley. Visitors can catch a glimpse of beautiful wildlife from one of the sites’ four viewing hides. Cycle ways, a visitor shop and an adventure playground add to the RSPB experience.
8 | Port Estates
“I think Hartlepool is a great place and I particularly like the people here. From an industrial point of view, one of the things I like about the town is that there is room to grow here and we plan to do just that. In the town you can see things changing around the marina and I really hope that attracts more businesses to invest in the area.� Richard Turner, CEO, JDR Cables
Port Estates | 9
a global
Economy A town proud of its history and maritime heritage, Hartlepool is synonymous with the water and offers excellent opportunities for port-related industries. We are leading the way in 21st century manufacturing and believe now is the perfect time to invest in our growing global economy. Covering more than 300 acres, the Port of Hartlepool continues to thrive and contribute to the local and national economy. The port, which is owned and operated by PD Ports, boasts a 200 acre deep water access facility and around one million square feet of warehousing and open storage. The town is easily accessible from the A19 and a regular high speed train links Hartlepool to London Kings Cross. Excellent links by sea, road, rail, and air make the site almost unique in its versatility and this was a key factor when Heerema Fabrication Group and JDR Cables chose to make roots here. Dutch-owned Heerema are specialists in the engineering and fabrication of complex, largescale structures for the offshore oil, gas and energy industries. In Hartlepool, they occupy two purposebuilt construction facilities covering 76,401 square metres with a 15,000 ton capacity quayside for large load-outs.
JDR Cables opened its ÂŁ30 million deepwater quayside facility at the Port of Hartlepool in July 2009 to manufacture subsea cables for the offshore wind energy sector. By 2016, the awardwinning company had further expanded their state-of-the-art Hartlepool site to better meet the demands of overseas operations. Further land has been identified at the port for offshore wind turbine assembly. The port offers over 56 hectares of fully serviced seafront land with access to five quays and three berths and is targeted at businesses in the renewable energy and advanced engineering sectors. Within a mile of the Port of Hartlepool site, the nearby Oakesway Industrial Estate also offers over 12 hectares of development land available and targeted at businesses in the renewable energy and advanced engineering sectors.
10 | Recycling Industries
“As a market leader in offshore decommissioning, the challenge is always to stay ahead of the game – our base in Hartlepool enables us to do just that. The sector is forecast to show strong growth over the coming years and we very much wish, and expect, Able Seaton Port to be a part of that. We are proud that from our base in Hartlepool we successfully compete in an international marketplace and we aim to continue leading the way in bringing jobs and investment to our region.” Neil Etherington, Business Development Director, Able UK
Recycling Industries | 11
the green
economy In Hartlepool we work with some of the world’s major companies in the recycling and energy industries, securing our place as a global player in these rapidly expanding fields.
Shell Brent Delta, one of Britain’s biggest oil platforms, is currently being recycled in Hartlepool
Hartlepool is home to an EDF nuclear power station, capable of supplying energy to two million UK homes
Able Seaton Port is one of the largest dry dock facilities in the world. Currently the final resting place of the Shell Brent Delta platform, which at 24,200 tonnes is one of Britain’s biggest ever oil platforms. Around 97% of the imposing 130 metre tall structure will be recycled and offered for sale globally. The scale of this project, which has included the construction of a new £28 million quay, has re-established Able Seaton Port as a recycling facility of strategic national significance. The exceptional facilities at Able Seaton Port play an influential role in defining the UK’s capabilities to service key sectors such as oil and gas, large-scale construction projects and offshore renewables.
Able Seaton Port is the only facility outside the US certified by the United States Maritime Administration for the decommissioning of its redundant assets
Able Seaton Port is the only facility outside of the United States that has been certified by the US Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) for the decommissioning of its redundant assets, highlighting its outstanding global reputation. Hartlepool’s dedication to furthering its green energy credentials are embodied in the EDF Energy nuclear power station, which is capable of providing low-carbon electricity to two million UK homes and is a major employer in the area, creating work for over 700 people.
12 | Creative Industries
Being
Creative The UK is famed around the world for its home-grown creatives. Hartlepool is investing in its creative industry, providing a bright future for budding talents in this field; those like acclaimed director Sir Ridley Scott whose career started here and whose legacy could inspire creative talents of the future.
The Angel of the North was built in Hartlepool
Hollywood director Sir Ridley Scott went to art college in the town
Hartlepool is home to Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD) which came top in 2014 and 2015 for UK art and design graduate employability. CCAD’s £11 million state-of-the-art campus, a 45,000 square feet facility, offers degree courses in the likes of Production Design for Stage and Screen, Fine Art, Commercial Photography and TV, Film and Theatre Production.
Filming for Victoria, Vera and Inspector George Gently has taken place in Hartlepool
The Hollywood director Sir Ridley Scott, famed for directing films such as Alien and Gladiator, studied at Cleveland College of Art and Design and directed his first film in Hartlepool. Sir Ridley recently praised West Hartlepool College of Art, now CCAD, for helping to set him on his path to Hollywood success when accepting a Bafta Fellowship award.
Feeding creative industries around the world CCAD graduates have... Worked for: • Next • Harrods • Ted Baker • Louis Vuitton
On productions such as: • The Harry Potter films • Heist • Gravity • World War Z
Along with projects for: • Disney • Aardman Productions • Royal Shakespeare Company • BBC
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“We are working hard to create an environment which will attract creative businesses, particularly in the stage and screen sector, that will enliven the economy and community. As our student numbers grow, so does footfall for local business, so we expect to see a thriving day-time economy developing…it’s already beginning as new independent businesses move in.” Patrick Chapman, Vice Principal, CCAD
To ensure the town continues to provide a bright future for budding creatives, CCAD is working with Hartlepool Borough Council to launch a film studio on the site of a former vehicle depot in the heart of the town. The 3,000 square metre film and TV sound stage studios will be the largest between Manchester and Edinburgh and will boost film and TV production in the North East region. Sir Anthony Gormley’s world famous Angel of the North statue, which weighs over 200 tonnes, was built in Hartlepool. The town is proud of the
role it played in creating this iconic North East landmark, one of the most talked about and recognisable pieces of public art ever produced. Jeff Stelling, the man who brings joy and despair to millions in equal measure each weekend as the host of Soccer Saturday, hails from the town. An avid Hartlepool United fan, this respected sports journalist is renowned for his wealth and depth of knowledge of the sport, alongside his pride in the town.
14 | Further Business & Industry
“Hartlepool Borough Council has a dedicated Enterprise Team which provides a wide variety of business support services and advice. The expert team can work with people looking to start a new business, right up to major businesses looking to relocate to the town. The Enterprise Team also manages an online vacant property database which provides businesses with information on available commercial properties to rent or buy in the town.” Councillor Kevin Cranney, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Regeneration Services Committee
Further Business & Industry | 15
Growing our
Economy Step away from the waterside areas of the town and you’ll discover Hartlepool offers a diverse mix of opportunities to meet the needs of any investor or growing business.
13 hectares of prime development land at Queens Meadow Business Park
Cameron’s Brewery still going strong after
166 years
Hartlepool offers a broad range of business solutions across a number of locations. From managed accommodation for start-ups through to large industrial units, retail outlets and quality office accommodation. Locations include a range of industrial estates and business parks throughout the town.
Merlin Flex Ltd is the UK’s largest dedicated manufacturer and specialist assembler of Flexible Printed Circuit Boards
Being a part of the Tees Valley Combined Authority is paying off too, with the Government’s proposed Devolution Deal estimated to bring an additional £450 million of funding to the region over the next three decades. Not only is the additional funding a huge benefit but powers will also be transferred from central government to the Tees Valley, allowing for better decision-making at a local level.
Queens Meadow Business Park Hartlepool’s premier business park is home to a variety of businesses. Featuring more than 13 hectares of prime development land, the park’s focus is towards businesses involved in advanced manufacturing and engineering, chemicals and the renewable energy sector.
With investment already earmarked for transport and infrastructure along with education and skills, the Combined Authority is drawing up ambitious plans for the economic future of the region, making Hartlepool a great place for business investment or expansion.
16 | Further Business & Industry
Hart Biologicals
Omega Plastics
Founded in 2002 by Hartlepool-born Albert Pattison, Hart Biologicals started its life with just three staff. It has since grown in size and stature and is now an innovative research, development and manufacturing firm specialising in diagnostic products for a range of blood conditions. In August 2009, with both the size of its staff and demand for its products growing, Hart Biologicals moved to purpose-built premises on the Queens Meadow site from where it continues to thrive and has built an extensive global network of distributors from South America to Asia.
Leading the way in injection mould tools and plastic components, Omega Plastics can also be found on the Queens Meadow site. Professional and knowledgeable engineers work with the likes of Unilever, and other major companies including the automotive, FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) and medical sectors. They credit their expert team of engineers with their significant growth over recent years.
Further Business & Industry | 17
Innovation Centre
Merlin Flex
Hartlepool Innovation Centre, located at Queens Meadow Business Park, provides serviced office space and industrial units to let which have been developed to support the needs of new or growing businesses. Operated by UKSE, the site provides tenants and their visitors with ample parking and easy access.
Merlin Flex Ltd, originally established in 1987, is the UK’s largest dedicated manufacturer and specialist assembler of Flexible Printed Circuit Boards. Based in Hartlepool, its team occupies a 30,000 square feet manufacturing facility, providing world class expertise in flexible and flex-rigid circuit design, manufacture and assembly across the Defence, Aerospace, Telecoms, Medical, Robotics and Instrumentation global markets.
Power Station - EDF
Cameron’s Brewery
Hartlepool’s nuclear power station is capable of supplying electricity to more than two million homes. Generating electricity since 1983, the facility now employs around 530 full-time staff and more than 200 full-time contract partners. The power station is the single largest employer in the town, employing 1% of the population.
Cameron’s Brewery produces a huge range of cask, keg and bottled beers. Founded in 1852, it is now the largest brewery in the North East and one of the largest in the UK, with a mix of managed, leased and partner pubs across the north. Its award-winning Cameron’s Strongarm, the brewery’s 60-year-old flagship beer, is as distinct as Hartlepool itself.
18 | Education, Apprenticeships & Training
skills &
education “Here in Hartlepool we know that investors need a top quality workforce in order to successfully grow their business. Through our work at Hartlepool College we are confident we can provide access to people with the right skills and attitude for any business looking to invest in this area.” Darren Hankey, Principal, Hartlepool College of Further Education
Hartlepool is a town that prides itself on providing a top quality education for its children and young people, alongside access to training and development opportunities that create the workforce of tomorrow from the students of today. A vast range of schools and colleges look after the educational needs of pupils from 4-18 years and Hartlepool Borough Council is striving to ensure all schools in the town are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted by 2020. Hartlepool College of Further Education (HCFE) is one of the leading providers of professional and technical education and training in the North East region. The college prides itself on being ‘employer-facing’ as demonstrated by Ofsted’s rating of Outstanding for HCFE’s apprenticeship provision.
Based out of a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of the town, the college offers students access to specialist equipment in engineering, construction, design, health and the service industries and has recently attracted funding for the development of further specialist facilities in telehealth and electric vehicles. Hartlepool has a strong reputation for providing apprenticeship and training opportunities across a range of industries. Utility Alliance, an energy consultancy company, employs over 200 staff and regularly offers apprenticeships. To date, they have put more than 100 young people through their 10week training course and offered 60% of those a one year apprenticeship with the business.
Education, Apprenticeships & Training | 19
Hartlepool has the highest percentage of 16 – 35 year olds starting apprenticeships in the Tees Valley
1,370
residents started apprenticeships in 2014/15
As part of the Tees Valley Combined Authority, Hartlepool will benefit from the recently launched ‘Inspiring Our Future’ strategy. The strategy reflects the new powers, funding and responsibilities secured by the Tees Valley Combined Authority in the Devolution Deal and looks to raise skill levels to help attract new business to the area and provide support to local people to access these newly created jobs.
71%
of apprentices stayed in Hartlepool with a further 15% staying in the Tees Valley
In total, the Combined Authority has identified investment of over £100 million for employment and skills related activity. By working in close partnership with local businesses, the Combined Authority will ensure this funding adds value and spurs innovation to address long-standing barriers to opportunity.
“As a council, we are committed to being a good employer and recognise that as one of the biggest employers in the town we have a duty to create apprenticeship, traineeship and job opportunities for young people. We hope that through leading by example, we will encourage other employers in the area to do the same.” Gill Alexander, Chief Executive, Hartlepool Borough Council
20 | Regeneration Scheme
Our Plan for
Hartlepool “Continuous improvement is our plan for Hartlepool and the future is never far from our thoughts. We want to keep Hartlepool evolving and moving forward, to keep up with changing times and trends. With that in mind, we are directing significant investment in to a massive regeneration scheme covering three main areas of the town. Now is the perfect time to join this story.” Denise Ogden, Director of Regeneration and Neighbourhoods, Hartlepool Borough Council
Church Street and The BIS Construction has started on a scheme to revitalise the Church Street area and transform it into a hub for creative industries. The former Post Office building in Whitby Street is being refurbished and extended to turn it into a centre for business start-ups in the creative industries sector. Called The BIS – ‘creating Businesses through Innovation and Skills’ – the £3 million centre will be run by Hartlepool Borough Council with support from Cleveland College of Art and Design. The conversion is being funded by the Tees Valley Combined Authority. A further £3.4 million is going into Church Street itself and Church Square. In Church Street, the focus is on enhancing the existing architecture and creating a more open, pedestrian-friendly area. The existing trees, which obscure the buildings, are being replaced with smaller ones, engraved stones
will be set into the pavement outside key buildings to explain their history and there will be a wider footpath along the south side of the street. Two-way traffic along Church Street will still be maintained and there will still be a number of parking bays. Church Square is also being given a major uplift. It’s being pedestrianised and a large oval event space encircled by trees and raised seating will be created in front of Hartlepool Art Gallery. There will be a landscaped walkway along Upper Church Street and new road access to the neighbouring Cleveland College of Art and Design buildings from the top of Church Street. The work is being funded by the Tees Valley Combined Authority, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Hartlepool Borough Council. A further £1.2 million has been put aside to improve the connection between this area and the town centre, allowing for better and safer access between the two sites.
Regeneration Scheme | 21
Artist Impression
Hartlepool Waterfront Funding has been secured to redevelop the former Jacksons Landing site at the heart of Hartlepool Marina. Proposals for this waterfront area include an events space, a 4* hotel, a large scale hi-tech visitor attraction, restaurants and a water sports hub. The regeneration of the Hartlepool Waterfront site – which will be phased – will be kick-started with a series of interim development projects. A water activity centre and public realm works to create grassed areas, a sculpture trail, boundary seating and new LED lighting aim to provide “a statement of intent” for the future transformation of the site. The regeneration project could bring more than 700 jobs to the town.
Seaton Carew Construction is also underway on a £1.3 million scheme to revitalise the Seaton Carew seafront. A new outdoor leisure park is being created on
Artist Impression
part of the promenade including the area currently occupied by the paddling pool. It will feature a children’s water play area, including ground geysers and water tunnels, along with children’s play equipment, picnic tables and beach huts. A new four-metre high glass and steel sculpture by Hartlepool artist Stuart Langley called ‘Waves’, reflecting the town’s maritime and industrial heritage, will be installed near Seaton Reach. Improvements are also being made to the art deco clock tower and bus station, including structural repairs and new paving. The Seaton improvements have been made possible thanks to a £600,000 contribution from the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund and £100,000 from local company Able UK. In a separate development, a new 10-hole crazy golf course will be created next to the leisure park by a private investor.
Artist Impression
22 | Housing
Making yourself
At Home
“Our vision is for Hartlepool to become a destination for business, culture, arts and study. We plan to provide quality, individual homes to attract inward migration and encourage new business development while recruiting and training a skilled and loyal workforce.” Barry Miller, Director, Wynyard Homes
6,000 new homes built across sites in and around the town over the next 15 years
73.5%
of people who work in Hartlepool live in Hartlepool
Good transport links allow the rest of the workforce to commute from surrounding local areas
Hartlepool Borough Council is committed to increasing the supply of housing to meet the growing demand. We are supporting economic growth and creating sustainable communities in places where people want to live.
National house builders Bellway, Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey sit side by side with local companies Wynyard Homes and Gentoo Homes to provide a thoughtfully designed mix of housing to suit all tastes and budgets across the town.
Our local plan aims to sensitively grow the housing on offer within the town to provide a fantastic living environment for people. The new local plan sees approximately 6,000 new homes built across sites in and around the town over the next 15 years.
Hartlepool Borough Council isn’t just investing in new homes. A Clean and Green Strategy for the entire town has been established, highlighting our vision for clean and well-maintained streets, parks, other green spaces and highways. The strategy – which will run until 2020 – is supported by an annual action plan.
“Hartlepool is an exceptional place with a remarkable and distinctive heritage and we are shaping an exciting future. Our ambition is that Hartlepool will be a vibrant, welcoming and inspiring place to live, work, invest and grow up in and we hope you will want to be part of this defining period in the history of the town.� Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council
For more information: www.hartlepool.gov.uk/regeneration enterprise@hartlepool.gov.uk (01429) 867677 If you know someone who needs this information in a different format, for example large print, Braille or a different language, please call (01429) 266522.