Business

A Middlesbrough-based end point assessment organisation (EPAO), launched in 2020, has found its supportive online approach has been a hit with training providers across the UK as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact normality in the sector.

1^st for EPA is an EPAO that supports apprentices through EPA by working collaboratively with training providers and employers to reduce costs, improve achievement rates and grow. The company provides guidance on how to approach EPA, supporting apprentices to prepare for their assessment and increasing their chance of passing first time. The admin burden on providers is greatly reduced with the ACE360 portal, which allows online scheduling of EPA and links directly to apprenticeship management systems.

1^st for EPA, which has worked with colleges and training providers throughout England, has had great feedback since its launch in March 2020.

Peter Lang, Head of School at Croydon College, said: “Undoubtedly this year has been an unusual one and more than ever confidence in our providers is crucial. We at Croydon College are very pleased to work with 1^st for EPA. The tools, support and ease of registering apprentices has been excellent, giving us the apprenticeship provider real confidence in the delivery and end point assessment process.”

Paul Drew, Managing Director at Apprentify, said: “Despite the challenges 2020 has presented, our apprentices are going into their assessment feeling more confident and it’s great to see. 1^st for EPA identifies areas that apprentices typically struggle with and tackle them head-on. We’re sure our retention rates will improve as a result of working with 1^st for EPA.”

1^st for EPA’s Managing Director, Helen Shinner, said: “2020 has been such a tough year for everyone, so we’re glad to be doing what we can to support providers and apprentices. Launching during a pandemic means we have had to work hard to prove the benefits of our approach and it’s certainly been well received.

“From our experience in the industry we know that to get the best from apprentices they need to feel confident and ready to give their best. To support apprentices, we produce guidance on how to prepare for EPA, sharing tips and best practice. Our remote assessment allows us to keep prices competitive and pass savings onto providers. We’ve seen huge growth already and are looking forward to working with more providers and employers in 2021.”

1^st for EPA assesses a range of apprenticeship standards, including Business Administrator, Digital Marketer, Marketing Manager, Marketing Executive, Marketing Assistant, HR Consultant and Partner and HR Support.

A rapidly expanding global technology company is set to move into Grade A office space in Middlesbrough’s Centre Square.

Causeway, which creates technological solutions to transform commercial performance in construction, are to occupy the top floor of One Centre Square between the Civic Centre and Teesside Crown Court.

The worldwide company already has a small base in Middlesbrough in Exchange Square but is looking to significantly expand its operations from the town. Middlesbrough will become its Centre of Engineering Excellence.

Welcoming the news, Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said: “This is absolutely brilliant news for the town to have a company like Causeway take space in Centre Square.

“They already have a footing in the town and it’s great that they want to expand their global business here in Middlesbrough.

“Slowly but surely and despite the challenge of the Covid crisis, we are bringing new high-quality jobs and investment to our town centre.

“We’ve already announced that property bank GBB will base their HQ in Centre Square, while national pension group XPS have agreed to stay in the town by moving into the same building.

“Middlesbrough is turning the corner and, with so many new homes coming too, our town centre is being transformed.”

Causeway founder and Chairman Phil Brown is excited by the opportunity to establish a first-class software engineering facility in Middlesbrough’s Centre Square.

He said: “Andy Preston and his team have created a compelling offer for firms like Causeway to access a very strong talent pool in the North East that is economically viable in comparison to the offshore tech-hubs in Eastern Europe and India.

“For Causeway this means we will create new jobs and bring jobs back to Britain, which feels right, now more than ever.”

The news is extra special for proud Teessider and Causeway’s Chief Technology Officer Charlie Pickering.

He said: “Causeway believes that strong product development teams are at the heart of all world class software organisations, so choosing Middlesbrough as our Centre of Engineering Excellence was a big decision.

“Middlesbrough was the obvious choice due to the strong local talent pool, the close proximity of numerous universities – all of which offer leading computing degrees – and the tenacious work ethic that comes naturally to Teessiders.

“It’s great to be bringing some much-needed positivity back to my home town.”

The expansion has been made possible in part thanks to funding provided by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “I’m delighted to hear that Causeway has used our funding to grow its business into Centre Square.

“At this time, it’s more important than ever that we support our brilliant businesses to create jobs and opportunities in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

“This move lets Causeway draw on local talent, help boost the economy and add even more to Middlesbrough’s digital ambitions as it continues to go from strength to strength.”

The Centre Square development is led by Middlesbrough Council and the developer Ashall Projects.

Its Director Mark Ashall also welcomed Causeway’s decision to relocate to One Centre Square and said it was another important step forward for the development.

He said: “Causeway’s decision shows that Centre Square’s offer of a light, comfortable, sustainable and flexible working environment in a central location is attractive to companies in a wide range of sectors.

“We look forward to welcoming other successful growing businesses to Centre Square in the near future.”

Middlesbrough based freight logistics specialist AV Dawson has announced it will build a new state-of-the-art head office facility at its Port of Middlesbrough site. With an estimated completion date of summer 2021, the new 24,000 sq ft office development forms part of a £10 million, 3 year masterplan recently announced for its recently rebranded Port of Middlesbrough facility.

The new office will be built in the exact location of the original Port of Middlesbrough. During the excavation the sandstone foundations that supported one of the first quays have been discovered.  Some of these foundations, which date back to 1838, will be preserved and displayed at the new offices.

The building has been designed with full glass frontage and rooftop terraces with views over the River Tees, whilst the interiors will feature open plan office spaces with colleague break out areas, a gym, private meeting spaces, co-working areas, and training rooms. 

When it comes to the top floor of the new offices the business has big plans. This level will incorporate a modern, state-of-the-art conferencing facility and meeting area, with capacity to seat up to 130 guests. The remainder of the top floor will be reserved for a large colleague entertainment area with music room, games area, kitchen, bar and relaxation spaces. Both areas will open on to two large terraces incorporating outdoor entertainment spaces with panoramic views across Middlesbrough and the River Tees.

AV Dawson managing director Gary Dawson said, “After recently announcing the launch of Port of Middlesbrough, our new head office development marks an exciting new chapter for AV Dawson. We wanted to build an office that not only looked modern and striking but also helped us deliver our long-term growth and expansion plans.

“Currently we have several offices across our sites with our teams dispersed across them. The new office gives us the opportunity to bring our teams together, allowing them to work more efficiently and collaboratively. A workspace needs to be functional but also address the needs of our colleagues, after all we do spend a large proportion of our days at work.  We have therefore consulted closely with our colleagues to understand their wants and needs and to incorporate this into the office design.

“Although the interior design is still ongoing, emotional health and wellbeing is at the forefront of our minds, this is why we have incorporated break out areas, entertainment spaces, quiet zones and agile working areas. These areas are designed to give colleagues the flexibility that is demanded from a modern office space. We’ve alo considered Covid restrictions in the design by introducing clear vistas and provisions for social distancing.

“This building is not only an investment for our future but a commitment to Middlesbrough and our local community. Our new conferencing facility isn’t solely for our own internal use – we want to engage with local stakeholders to host events and also open it up to local schools and colleges to visit – they will be able to learn about the port’s past, but we can also use this to reinforce the bright future our region has ahead, and the career opportunities available.

“Being a Teesside business, with 96 percent of our colleagues coming from the Tees Valley area, we were keen to procure from local companies wherever we could. This certainly didn’t mean we had to compromise as there are some incredible businesses in our area, leading the way in their individual fields. The design of the building was crucial to get right, this is why we are working closely with two talented Middlesbrough based design businesses. We employed the architectural services of C A Ross Designs to design the main structure of the building and commercial interior design specialists Cocoon and Bauer to bring the interiors to life. 

AV Dawson’s new head office is expected to open in Summer 2021. Progress of the build can be monitored on the Port of Middlesbrough website.

Addison Project are delighted to announce the opening of their new north east engineering office, located at Riverside Park in Middlesbrough.

With offices in Lancashire and Cheshire for over two decades, the new Teesside office is an exciting opportunity to establish Addison Project in the North East as a leading engineering service provider.

The office will be based on the same successful principles that have made Addison Project one of the leading independent engineering service companies in the UK; quality, honesty and reliability. These principles are the foundation of our success together with the support of our employees, who are the life blood of the company.

Our intention is to further cement Addison Project in the North East region, delivering Engineering Design and Project Management at the highest possible level, not only meeting your expectations but exceeding them.

We recognise the need for local resource, so alongside our recruitment policy of attracting experienced engineers, we will develop new staff through our training, apprenticeships and development schemes. We hope to create local job opportunities and attract the right individuals to join us on our exciting journey.

Our in-house engineering capability covers project and construction management, plus multi-disciplined design service including; process, mechanical, EC&I, civil and structural capabilities.

In support of the above services we also offer in-house; 3D Laser Scanning / Modelling, DSEAR studies, Pressure Relief, Pipe Stressing & High Voltage engineering up to and including 33kV.

Our commitment to Health & Safety has been acknowledged by the award of the ROSPA ‘Order of Distinction’, this follows twenty years of consecutive ‘Gold Awards’. As an example of this, we have recently passed the milestone of 100,000 Harm Free hours on the major construction project at Lianhetech, which makes us and our contractors particularly proud.

Should you wish to discuss any of the above with us, please contact us on enquiries@addisonproject.co.uk or call the office on 01642 694000.

TeesAMP, the landmark £55m advanced manufacturing Business Park adjacent to Riverside Park industrial development on the banks of the River Tees, has welcomed its latest occupants, Durata.

The company, which employs 20 people, specialises in critical power infrastructure for data-led industries such as banks, hospitals and government sites.  It took up residence in its new 3,000sq ft industrial space, after following the TeesAMP development from its inception in 2018.

TeesAMP was developed by Middlesbrough-based Chaloner Group, in partnership with Middlesbrough Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) in order to attract innovative companies to the area, resulting in more job opportunities created for the Tees Valley.

Featuring high quality, high specification buildings over 180,000sq ft, it has become a focal point for innovation and advanced engineering in the Tees Valley, and plans to continue its growth in the development of Phase 2, which will cover an additional 100,000sq ft.

Durata, which operates throughout the UK and Europe as well as the Middle East, is aiming to grow its presence in the Tees Valley and the wider North East region and grow its Teesside business links by developing relationships with technology focused businesses in the area.

Already well established in the south of England, Durata are preferred suppliers to high profile organisations providing world-leading energy technologies and real-time automation services into integrated solutions for data centres, infrastructure and industries. 

Geoff Hogg, Chief Executive of Chaloner Group, said: “We are exceptionally proud to welcome the Durata team to their new office on the TeesAMP development.  We are confident that this will give them the opportunity to further expand into the Tees Valley area and the wider Northern region.

“The interest in the TeesAMP development from the technology and manufacturing sectors has been considerable, and we are looking forward to planning and seeing work begin on Phase Two soon.” 

John McGee, Managing Director of Durata, said: “Our move to the prestigious TeesAMP development has been part of our strategic plans for the last two years, and we are proud that we are able to grow our presence in our home town of Middlesbrough.

“TeesAMP gives us the opportunity to attract new clients in and around Tees Valley, and our focus is very much on the innovative companies, and industry-leading cluster of technology based businesses that are right here on our doorstep.”

Councillor Ashley Waters, Executive Member for Regeneration at Middlesbrough Council, said: “TeesAMP is a hugely significant project for Middlesbrough and the wider Tees Valley, and we’re thrilled that it is already attracting businesses and creating job opportunities for local people.

“It’s great to see Durata scaling up its operations within Middlesbrough’s thriving digital and technology sectors. I wish them all the best in their new home at TeesAMP.”

PD Ports has recently completed a £3.36 million pound refurbishment project on its Number 1 Ro-Ro linkspan at Teesport that will support increasing volumes of global Ro-Ro traffic and further strengthen the Port’s position as the UK’s northern gateway for international trade.

Operating three Ro-Ro berths at Teesport, PD Ports currently welcomes nine sailings per week from Rotterdam and Zeebrugge, as well as a monthly call from Japan. The renovation work to the ‘Number 1’ Ro-Ro terminal, which will improve sustainability and extend service life, means that a wider range of vessels can now access the berth. This investment demonstrates another step forward in the port operator’s long-term strategic vision to position Teesport at the forefront for opportunities for the north of the UK as a result of international trade growth.

The completed works, which began last spring, ensure that the berth complies with current legislation and modern design standards whilst also increasing the longevity of the berth’s lifespan, meaning that the Port can continue to handle larger vessels in line with a continued increase in demand for services at Teesport.

The project was completed both on time and on budget with the first vessel – the 162.7m long and 25.5m wide Estraden – welcomed back onto the refurbished ramp in March of this year after arriving in Teesport from Europort in Rotterdam.

PD Ports’ CEO, Frans Calje, said, “Roll-on/Roll-off is an important component of our port activity here at Teesport and is integral to our preparations to support future trade movements in a post-Brexit era whilst continuing to drive economic growth for the Tees Valley.

“We continue to make significant investments in our port infrastructure, positioning Teesport and the wider region as globally competitive, whilst supporting delivery of the UK Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda. This latest investment is very much part of our long-term strategic plan for Teesport as the UK’s Northern gateway for international trade and will enhance our capacity and our performance to the benefit of our customers.”

The multi-million pound investment builds on the £1 billion of direct and third party investments that the port operator has attracted to the Tees Valley over the past decade and supports further long-term economic growth for the region.

Town centre businesses have been making the most of a special grant scheme to help them stay Covid-secure.

Middlesbrough Council unveiled the support scheme aimed at small businesses and the self-employed last month.

Eligible businesses can apply for grants of up to £100 to cover the cost of protective measures such as hand sanitiser, face coverings, screens, chair covers and other such items.   

So far nearly 30 firms have received grants – and others are being urged to come forward.

Among the first to benefit was Rounton Coffee, who used the cash to provide face coverings for staff at their Bedford Street coffee shop and at The Corner at Debenhams.

Founder David Beattie said: “Our industry is suffering enormously, and confidence in the hospitality sector is at an all-time low.

“We need every little bit of help we can get if we’re to survive, so this £100 contribution to our PPE is really welcome.

“It’s massively encouraging to know that people are looking out for us, and I’d encourage any eligible business to take advantage while the scheme’s still open.”

Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said: “These are really tough times for businesses, and it can be especially hard for small enterprises which are so important for our local economy.

“We’re doing everything we can to get them the support they need, and we will continue to press Government for more funding.

“These grants might be small, but they can still make a big difference as Rounton Coffee have shown.

“When they’re gone they’re gone, so I urge anyone who’s eligible to take advantage while they can.

The small grants programme is being funded by money allocated to the Council to support its Local Outbreak Management Plan by central government.

Only Covid-19 protective items bought on or after September 23 are eligible. Businesses that have already accessed Covid grant funding can still make a claim under this scheme.

To make an application or find out more about eligibility visit the business support page.

A growing national business is this week unveiled as the latest tenant of Middlesbrough’s prestigious Centre Square development.

Days after it was announced that new property bank GBB would create up to 120 new jobs when they move into Two Centre Square, nationwide pension experts XPS Pensions Group have confirmed they will occupy the whole of the second floor of the building as they expand their existing operation.

The firm currently employs approximately 90 people in Middlesbrough, and is committed to growing its presence in the area by creating further jobs in their new 11,950 sq ft offices.

The state-of-the-art Grade A office development offers 21^st century accommodation at the heart of Middlesbrough town centre, close to the Town Hall and mima.

The scheme – developed in partnership between Middlesbrough Council and Ashall Projects – is kick-starting the next phase of town centre regeneration, designed to bring back employment and breathe new life into the town’s retail and service sector.

XPS Pensions Group chose Centre Square following a regional search both for the quality of development and the burgeoning potential of the surrounding environment.

Middlesbrough recognised some time ago that if it wanted to compete and attract national employers to the town, it was essential that not only was the right quality of accommodation available to the occupier, but that the whole environmental and facility package be part of the offer.

Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston has championed the Centre Square development since his election in May, 2019, recognising its key role in the long-term success and prosperity of the town centre.

It’s part of an overall regeneration strategy that also features new urban living proposals as part of a better balanced and more sustainable town centre economy.

Mayor Preston said: “This is fantastic news, especially in these difficult and unprecedented times.

“XPS have shown real belief in the vision we have for Middlesbrough, and it’s a decision they won’t regret.

“Coming so soon after the fantastic news about GBB taking space in Centre Square, this letting shows we’re well on the road to delivering a thriving town centre with great job and living opportunities.

“But it’s also just the start – we intend to take Centre Square and the whole town centre on to new levels so that the whole community can benefit from and enjoy it.

“I’ve been saying for some time that we had exciting tenants lined up to move into Centre Square and these things often take far longer to finalise that we’d all like, but this is just the latest in a series of good news announcements for our town, right at a time when we’re facing some very real challenges due to Covid.

“We’ll be announcing more good news very soon around Centre Square but there are so many exciting developments bubbling under that are going to have a transformational impact on our town centre, job creation and the local economy.”

XPS Administration’s Managing Director, David Watkins said: “We are delighted to be a part of this game-changing scheme and are looking forward to moving into our new offices and creating a first class environment for our staff and the opportunity to further grow our business in Middlesbrough.

“The Centre Square development is both a modern and environmentally-friendly office, which is essential if we are to continue to attract and retain the high calibre workforce we need.

“We’ll be creating a new contact centre in Middlesbrough and we’ll be looking to use the office to support growth in payroll services for the XPS Group as a whole.

“Clearly we want to grow our book of public sector business and continue to increase our presence in the Local Government sector. Also, we may look to use the space in Middlesbrough to allow XPS to grow in other geographies – by moving existing clients to the Middlesbrough teams.”

XPS’s decision was welcomed by Middlesbrough Council’s development partner, Ashall Projects.

Director Mark Ashall said: “I am delighted that XPS has become the latest business to move to Centre Square. Its decision provides further evidence that the combination of the benefits of a town centre location, with easy access to local amenities, public transport and quality public realm, and a great, sustainable and flexible working environment is extremely appealing to employers and their staff.”

GBB, the ground-breaking new bank that will get ‘Britain and the regions building again’, has announced Middlesbrough as its new headquarters.

In a move that will create up to 120 jobs in the town, GBB has secured a 15 year lease for 11,000 sq ft of space in Middlesbrough’s purpose-built 2 Centre Square, making it the first tenant in the Grade A office development which – in the construction phase alone – saw more than £2m spent on local suppliers and around half the workforce living within a 10 mile radius.

GBB is expected to secure its provisional banking licence this autumn, which will allow it to trade as GB Bank. It will retain a satellite office in Newcastle, where it is currently based.

Recruitment is focused on North East talent, and the bank expects to initially employ a team of around 60 people, doubling this as it grows. It is already actively recruiting around 40 of these roles in the fields of finance, risk, customer management, marketing, human resources, IT, lending, savings and more.

When up and running, it will offer highly competitive fixed-rate savings and provide development finance, working with property companies to deliver 2160 new homes and 770,000 sq ft of office space in the North East alone.

GBB boasts another local connection through its association with the Teesside Pension Fund. The fund’s committee voted to invest £20m in GBB.

Chair of the Teesside Pension Fund, Cllr David Coupe, said: “It’s been a long-term aspiration of the fund to invest in an attractive and well-controlled local opportunity. It’s excellent that GBB will put down roots in Middlesbrough. They have a bold plan for the future and it’s excellent news that they will be based in the heart of our town centre.

“Lots of companies are sadly at the mercy of Covid-19 uncertainty, but we’re confident investing in a robust, sector-specific digital start-up such as this is a strong way to maximise returns for the pension fund’s beneficiaries.”

Steve Deutsch, CEO of GBB, said: “This is a landmark moment in our journey. Middlesbrough has a reputation as a hotbed for digital tech innovation, making it a natural fit. 2 Centre Square is a hugely impressive building and will make a great base for the team. 

“The bank will meet a real need for SME commercial and residential property developers, as we’ll deliver the finance and relationship support that’s lacking at the moment. 

“Establishing a bank in the region benefits everyone, from the people we employ to the jobs created by the property developers we work with. We now have an excellent base, the investment that we need – the next stage is to secure our licence and have the full infrastructure in place ready to launch late 2021.”

Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said: “Middlesbrough’s becoming a much braver and more ambitious town. What we’re going to do is start challenging cities like Newcastle and Leeds for investment and success.

“Having a new bank based in the centre of Middlesbrough is the perfect statement of that new ambition and the first step to success.

“GBB is certainly going to be very successful, create jobs and win national attention, so that’s absolutely fantastic news for our town.

“Basing their headquarters in Centre Square is the first piece of really good news for our ambitions to host more jobs in and around the centre of town. There are several more announcements to follow in the coming weeks.”

The news about GBB has also been welcomed by the developer which – alongside Middlesbrough Council – has been responsible for Centre Square. 

Mark Ashall, the director of Ashall Projects, said: “The main objective of the Centre Square project was to provide employers and their staff with a light, comfortable, sustainable and flexible working environment coupled with the full range of benefits of its town centre location – including easy access to high quality public realm, local amenities and public transport.

“We are pleased that GBB has chosen to take advantage of these benefits and look forward to welcoming further employers to Centre Square in the near future.”

For more information, please visit the GBB website.

Local freight logistics specialist, AV Dawson, has been called in to import 1km of tunnel segments for Anglo American’s Woodsmith Project on the North Yorkshire Moors.

The team at AV Dawson’s Port of Middlesbrough worked with global logistics experts FH Bertling on this complex logistics challenge. 

The Woodsmith Project, which was recently taken over by Anglo American, has been manufacturing tunnel segments in a purpose built plant at Wilton International in Redcar to build the 35km tunnel that will carry the mineral product from the Mine to the River Tees for export.

The rapid pace of construction has meant that segments have been required faster than they could be produced at the Wilton plant and so additional supply has been imported.

Andy Raine, deputy project director of Strabag said: “We calculated that we needed to import an extra 3,000 precast concrete segments to keep up with the rate the tunnel boring machine was building the tunnel. Importing these was a particularly complex logistical challenge not only due to the sheer number of segments required but also the weight of each segment.

“We knew we needed the specialist support that FH Bertling and AV Dawson could provide, so this project could be assessed from end-to-end and all creative solutions could be put on the table.  AV Dawson’s Port of Middlesbrough was the ideal port to import the cargo through, due to its location and AV Dawson’s specialist expertise in handling complex cargos.”

After a number of months of planning, the project team concluded that the most effective solution would be to transport the segments as a breakbulk cargo, with each stack individually lashed and secured to the floor of the vessel.  These stacks were then unloaded at Port of Middlesbrough with onward transport to the construction site provided by AV Dawson’s road transport team.

Gary Dawson, managing director of AV Dawson said: “Like many people in Teesside, we recognise that Woodsmith Project is a major opportunity for the local area and have therefore made ourselves available to support the teams behind the project since the start.

“Building the relationship early on has been really beneficial for all parties. Many businesses involve the logistics supply chain very late in the day and often this will result in missed opportunities to ensure the logistics is designed to be as efficient as possible.

“This particular element of the project has been in planning for around 12 months. We have worked in partnership with FH Bertling and Strabag to thoroughly assess a number of solutions for importing these reinforced concrete segments and transporting them over to site, and between us have developed a cost effective solution that protects the quality of the product.

“After a long planning process, it was fantastic to see the first of these four ships arrive and this part of the project become a reality.”

Paul Snowdon, Bertling UK said: “Bertling Logistics was awarded the project to deliver concrete segments from Sassnitz in Germany to the Anglo American Potash site in Wilton. Our Hamburg office time-chartered a coaster vessel over four round trips to deliver all the cargo safely. We selected AV Dawson’s Port of Middlesbrough as the discharge point as the team there demonstrated a real appetite to work with us, as well as providing a strategic location and flexibility to ensure high quality standards were maintained throughout the project cycle. Bertling Middlesbrough’s Heavy Logistics & Engineering office surveyed the discharge of all concrete sections maintaining HSE principles were observed throughout. AV Dawson then handled all concrete stacks on the quay and loaded eight trailers per day to Anglo American at Wilton without incident.  We worked within the time parameters and delivered a successful project together again, just as we did when we delivered the tunnel boring machine from Germany last year.”