Business

The dedicated short sea service, which will also call at Tilbury during its rotation, offers customers fast and reliable transit times of three to four days, building on the success of the Iberian route, announced in December.

The first departure from Poland is due to take place on April 28^th, with arrival at Teesport on May 2^nd, and demonstrates continued demand for shippers recognising Teesport as the port of choice for UK imports and exports.

Kim Catterick, General Manager of Key Accounts at PD Ports, was delighted to see the collaboration with Ellerman City Liners going from strength to strength.

“It is truly fantastic to welcome another service to Teesport with Ellerman City Liners,” said Kim. “The new route demonstrates the trust that global shippers have in PD Ports in offering reliable and effective services and signifies that Teesport continues to provide direct access into Europe, avoiding the congestion of busier ports in the South.

“The new route is a testament to the positive collaboration between PD Ports and Ellerman City Liners and we look forward to further strengthening our relationship to support further trade growth.”

Mathis Stöckmann, Operations Director at Ellerman City Liners, was equally optimistic about the service. He said, “We are looking forward to further strengthening our partnership with PD Ports at Teesport.

“The new service from Poland also offers one of the best transit times to US East Coast – New York can be reached from Teesport in just 14 days by connecting to our USX service – thereby providing even more solutions for customers.”

PD Ports, one of the UK’s major port groups, has gained Gold Status from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for its commitment to health and safety excellence for the third consecutive year.

The port operator, which owns and operates Teesport, the sixth largest port in the UK, as well as 11 other key ports and logistics centres nationwide, has instilled health and safety as the company’s primary core value, encouraging each of its people to hold the safety of themselves and others in the highest regard.

Organisations receiving a RoSPA Award are recognised as being world-leaders in health and safety practice and CEO, Frans Calje, was delighted to see PD Ports retain its reputation for excellence.

“At PD Ports we expect all of our employees to be actively engaged in ensuring the safety of all colleagues, contractors, visitors and anyone else who may come in to contact with our business to ensure that each and every person can return home safely to their families at the end of the day,” said Frans.

“There is an awful lot of hard work that continues to go into our overall health and safety performance, and I am so proud that we continue to deliver a culture in which we will have no accidents.

“Receiving a gold award for the third consecutive year is a great reflection of our ambition and focus and is truly a testament to my colleagues who continue to drive our safety-first philosophy.”

Julia Small, RoSPA’s Achievements Director, said: “Accidents at work and work-related ill health don’t just have huge financial implications or cause major disruption – they significantly impact on an individual’s quality of life. That’s why good safety performance deserves to be recognised and rewarded.

“We are thrilled that PD Ports has won a RoSPA Award and would like to congratulate them on showing an unwavering commitment to keeping their employees, clients and customers safe from accidental harm and injury.”

The RoSPA Awards scheme is the longest running of its kind in the UK, receiving entries from organisations across the globe, making it one of the most sought-after achievement awards for the health and safety industry.

Middlesbrough’s Centre Square is setting for standard for office working post-pandemic. 

That is the view of two Tees Valley commercial property experts who been involved in many of the area’s biggest office developments over the past 30 years.

Their comments came after new figures show that the return to office working is gathering pace as we approach the third anniversary of the first lockdown which made working from home compulsory. 

Regional Reit – one of the UK’s largest owners of office buildings – said only 1% of more than a thousand tenants in its 156 properties had not reopened their offices.  A year ago that figure was 70%.

But in a separate survey Remit Consultancy found that offices in busy parts of London were rarely more than 50% full, with the length and cost of travel key factors in employees’ choice to work in the office or at home. 

Stephen Brown, Senior Partner with Middlesbrough-based Dodds Brown, said: “COVID accelerated a trend for working from home that the advance of technology, primarily, had already started.  Now, though, we’re seeing things even out with hybrid working becoming the preferred middle ground for many staff. But businesses – and especially those who value collaborative working – know that they must create an environment and surroundings which encourage people to come to the office.  And that’s what’s happening in Centre Square where new standards are being set.”

Six Centre Square – the latest stage of the Centre Square development was completed last month.  It was funded by the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) which has invested £9.7m in the project and now owns the building.  Middlesbrough Council also contributed a £2m grant.

Around half of the building is being fitted out in advance of the arrival of 450 staff from the insurance giant AXA UK.  There is still space available for other occupiers: more than 10,000 sq ft on the top floor and 4,500 sq ft at ground level.

David Jackson of APP Jackson & Partners said: “There are more ways to attract staff to the office than offering free pizza on Fridays.  They’ve got to be given sufficient room in and around their desk, comfortable places to spend their breaks and – as we see with Centre Square – easy access to public transport links, shops and amenities.”

He added: “Whether you’re at home or in the office you’ll probably be doing the same work.  If employers want you to spend more time with your colleagues they have to provide an environment that’s more appealing than being at home.  When you look at the offices already occupied in the first stage of the Centre Square development, that’s exactly what companies like Causeway, GB Bank and XPS are doing.”

Encouraging staff to work from the office will become an even bigger challenge with an expected change in employment law later this year.  New employees will be able to request a flexible working pattern, including working from home, from their first day rather than having to wait for six months. 

The proposal has been the subject of fierce criticism from one of the UK’s best-known business figures Sir James Dyson who described it as “economically illiterate and staggeringly self-defeating”.

Writing in The Times newspaper he said the change would “hamper employers’ ability to organise their workforce” and discourage firms investing in the UK when they had such little control over “how and where” staff can work.

The next phase of a pilot to build on local innovation strengths is now open for applications, with a share of £3million of investment available to support local businesses.

Phase one of Innovate UK’s Launchpad pilot kicked off in September last year. Innovate UK is the UK’s innovation agency – and part of UK Research and Innovation.

It invited small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to apply for competitive grants starting at £25,000 for innovation projects that focus on the region’s energy and renewable sector. 

Following the success of its initial round, more businesses active or growing in the area’s net zero innovation cluster looking to deliver outstanding projects in the sector are being urged to apply for funding of up to £1million.

A briefing webinar for local stakeholders is set to take place on 22 February outlining more details of the competition.

A string of local businesses secured funding in the first competition – with more than £5million given in grant funding and almost £1.9million of match funding provided.  

One successful firm is Hartlepool-based renewable hydrogen firm Catalsys, who have developed a unique ammonia cracking technology.

Their breakthrough has the potential to contribute towards net zero in two ways: Firstly, it could significantly increase the adoption of green hydrogen by making it possible to produce it on-site from low-cost renewables anywhere in the world; And secondly, it could be used to provide grid-independent low-cost green electrical power.

Catalsys CEO Kevin Fothergill said: “We are excited the Tees Valley Net Zero Innovation team shares our vision and sees the potential of our technology.

“The grant funding we received means we can ramp up our prototype development – and is opening doors to partners who could help us bring the technology to wide adoption and unlock the potential of green hydrogen.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Whether it’s carbon capture, utilisation and storage, hydrogen, offshore wind or sustainable aviation fuel, Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool is leading the way in the safer, cleaner and healthier industries of tomorrow.

“While we’ve welcomed a lot of great news from big, global businesses investing in our region, the expertise and know-how of our SMEs is just as important if we’re truly going to mark ourselves out as a net zero, low carbon powerhouse. These are the innovators and job creators on the ground right now, who know our sector and its possibilities the best.

“This is a great opportunity for them to get the funding they need to help drive the forward-thinking products, processes and projects which are vital to strengthening our net zero offer, attracting more companies here and boosting the ones that we have, ultimately creating more well-paid, good-quality jobs.”

Indro Mukerjee, CEO of Innovate UK, said: “Innovate UK is building strong regional partnerships across the UK to support local innovation and commercialisation. We’re pleased to work with the Tees Valley team through the Innovate UK launchpad programme and our other partnership activities to help innovative businesses contribute to a stronger region.”

The second competition is open now, and closes to applications on 29 March.

For more information or to apply, visit the Government website. To register for the briefing webinar, visit the registration website.

Hundreds of jobs are on offer in Middlesbrough town centre as its transformation into a regional leisure destination steps up a gear in 2023.

Family entertainment centre Level X and e-sports and gaming venue The Wired Lobby will be among the companies advertising roles at a special jobs fair being held next week.

Those flagship names will be among the first to open at Captain Cook Square in the town centre in the coming months, followed by a boutique cinema and a host of food and drink operators.

Exclusive hospitality roles including chefs, IT specialists, waiting and bar staff, front of house and security will all be available at the recruitment event at Middlesbrough Town Hall.

Other companies represented will include established Middlesbrough businesses like Dovecot, Bentley’s and The Chairman.

Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said: “Middlesbrough town centre is on the up, and the number of jobs available this year proves it.

“As traditional retail declines on high streets across the UK, our goal has always been to bring more people into our centre to live, work, play and learn.

“We’re already building new houses, supporting our cutting-edge digital industry with the Boho X development, and welcoming a brand-new secondary school and potentially Eton college to our town centre.

“Now with leisure developments like Captain Cook Square, we’re giving Middlesbrough something to be proud of and attracting visitors from far and wide – while providing hundreds of jobs.

“I’d urge anyone interested to go along to the jobs fair and see what’s on offer.”

Middlesbrough Community Learning, the National Careers Service and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will also attend the event offering advice on CV writing, interview techniques and other relevant courses.

Associated Risk Group will offer opportunities to train for roles in security.

As part of Middlesbrough Council’s plans to get more people living, working, learning and spending their leisure time in the town centre, it bought Captain Cook Square with the aim to rebalance the town centre economy.

Level X will open in the former TJ Hughes store, with a state-of-the art electric karting track and vintage gaming machines taking over the first floor and bowling, VR gaming and golf among the attractions packing out the ground floor.

A few doors down in the former Peacock’s store will be The Wired Lobby, Middlesbrough’s first e-sports arena bringing competitive gaming and full-size racing car simulators to the town centre.

Captain Cook Square will also be home to a boutique cinema, a high-end cocktail bar, and exciting new food and drink concepts in 2023 with more announcements expected soon.

The town centre is already home to thriving bars and restaurants in our independent quarter around Baker and Bedford Street, and on Linthorpe Road.

And late last year, cabaret cocktail bar and restaurant Bloom opened close to the soon-to-be remodelled Railway Station at Exchange Square, which is also set to welcome renowned The Muddler restaurant and national operator STACK’s trendy food and drink development in 2023, subject to planning permission.

The jobs fair will be held at Middlesbrough Town Hall, from 9.30am to 12.30pm on Thursday, January 19.

SaaS company Salesfire has announced the appointment of David Pinches as Non
Executive Chairman, to provide strategic guidance and support following a £3.05 million
investment in October.

Following a successful career as a senior executive at technology companies such as Sage
PLC, IRIS Software, FinancialForce & Causeway Technologies, David brings a wealth of
knowledge and experience in business strategy, marketing and business development, as
Salesfire looks to continue expansion over the next 3 years.

Since Salesfire was founded in 2017, the company has grown exponentially. In the past year
alone they have grown by 40%, and are looking to accelerate further. The company was
born from the need to communicate additional information to customers during their online
shopping experience. Their product offering enables eCommerce retailers to grow their
conversion rates online with their intuitive tech solution.

Salesfire CEO, Rich Himsworth said: ‘Appointing David as our chairman has aligned well
with Salesfire’s growth plans. His background in B2B and SaaS will help provide our team
with strategy and advice when growing out the product, partnership offerings and marketing
campaigns.’

David Pinches, commented : ‘As the Non Exec Chair, I plan both to operate at board level
and with the operational team to guide Salesfire’s go to market strategy. I’m looking forward
to actively participating in the next chapter of our growth and seeing just how far we can
scale.’

David was introduced to the business by Mercia following a £2m investment from NPIF –
Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse
Investment Fund (NPIF), as part of an overall £3.05m funding round.

Will Clark of Mercia said: “David’s experience in the tech sector means he is well suited for
the role of Chair at Salesfire. Having the right board members can make a big difference to a
company’s prospects. This appointment demonstrates the wider support that Mercia
provides – not only in providing investment but also in putting the right support and people in
place to help companies scale and grow.”

Middlesbrough jam maestro Rosalind Waugh has bagged another haul of awards for her latest selection of tasty treats.

The Marton Manor-based culinary whizz scooped first place in the Best Marmalade category at the Great British Food Awards 2022 with her Blood Orange Negroni.

And there was a Highly Recommended accolade for her popular Gooseberry and Tonka Bean Jam.

The 2022 Deliciously Yorkshire Awards saw Rosalind turn baker to scoop the Best Ready To Eat category for her Turkish Borek, while her Gooseberry Chutney was shortlisted in the Best Savoury Condiments category.

The awards are just the latest additions to Rosalind’s already packed awards cabinet, and her products have been featured in national magazines.

Rosalind has turned a passion for locally-grown and home-produced jams, chutneys and preserves into a booming enterprise, with customers the length and breadth of the UK.

Rosalind said: “The real joy of the products I make is the pleasure they give to my customers who tell me how much they enjoy them.

“They’re the ones who inspire me to come up with new recipes, and I’ve always got something new in the pipeline.

“These awards are the icing on the cake – it’s lovely to have official recognition for something that’s so much more than just a job.”

Customers can contact Rosalind by messaging her on Facebook or emailing rosal09@hotmail.co.uk and prospective stockists are also welcome to get in touch.

THE FAST growing company behind one of the region’s most unique leisure brands has unveiled plans for a temporary scheme in Middlesbrough.

Danieli Group, which is responsible for STACK Seaburn in Sunderland and recently revealed its planned schemes for Newcastle, Durham and Bishop Auckland, has this week submitted a planning application for a Teesside site.

And if successful STACK Middlesbrough will be in place for three years, in the arcaded undercroft of the A66 flyover adjacent to Exchange Square, creating around 115 jobs.

The proposed scheme will be constructed using 25 shipping containers, designed around a central plaza with seating surrounded by five street food vendor outlets and three bars.

In keeping with the STACK’s commitment to a complete entertainment experience, a stage is also part of the plans, which will be used for live performances and events.

If planning permission is granted, work will get under way immediately, with the hope of being open for Easter 2023.

The company also operates the highly successful Hadrian’s Tipi which will also be set up on the site with its own bar for the three year duration, with a regularly changing theme to reflect key dates on the calendar.

The new development comes after Danieli Group also showcased it plans to roll out nationwide, with schemes in both Lincoln and Carlisle recently announced.

This will be the second investment by the Group in Middlesbrough, following on from its proposal to transform the former Banking Hall at Commerce House at the corner of Exchange Square, into a new branch of its pan-Asian restaurant, The Muddler.

Neill Winch, CEO of Danieli Group, said he was delighted to be able to announce further investment in the town.

“We have a very strong growth strategy for STACK and have announced a number of new sites in recent months,” he said.

“We are very happy at the prospect of a pop-up scheme in Middlesbrough which, if successful, will be in place for three years.

“Given the rapid expansion of the brand, we would also hope to identify a site for a permanent STACK in Middlesbrough in the long term.”

Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said: “Amazing things are happening really quickly in this key gateway to Middlesbrough.

“STACK will be a fantastic addition to Exchange Square which has been given a new lease of life.

“Our historic station is currently undergoing a £30 million overhaul, while other new arrivals include The Muddler and Bloom.

“That speaks volumes about the confidence investors have in Middlesbrough right now – and we’re only just getting started.”

Regular updates on the scheme will be available via STACK’s social media @stackmiddlesbrough.

SaaS platform Salesfire has announced a fundraise of over £3 million to further fuel the
businesses accelerated growth, create 50 new jobs and target the US market.
The fundraise, which includes £2m from NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance, managed by Mercia and
is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund – is part of an overall £3.05m funding
round which will be used to further fuel expansion of the Salesfire portfolio and nurture the core
workplace values which have enabled previous successes.
Having established a strong employee focussed culture via a company-wide share scheme
introduced at the end of 2021 and appointment of directors in 2022, the funding will enable the
business to more than double the size of the team and target rapid expansion into the US in
2023.
Salesfire was founded in 2017 by Rich Himsworth whose previous experience includes senior
positions at a number of software and marketing businesses. The company now serves over
650 customers including Moss Bros, Sports Shoes and Hamleys, and has annual recurring
revenue of over £2m.
CEO, Rich Himsworth says:
‘We’ve established a solid base of operations in the UK and we’re happy our funding partners
also recognise how far we can take Salesfire and the products’ global appeal. Marketers across
the world are starting to look at new ways to flourish in a challenging retail environment and it’s
never been more important for online stores to make the most of their marketing spend.’

Clive Owen LLP, chartered accountants and business advisers, is celebrating the first anniversary of the opening of its Riverside Park, Middlesbrough office with the news that it has more than doubled its workforce.

Led by partner Chris Beaumont and tax partner Lee Watson, from an initial 11 team members the office has grown to 23 colleagues and has significantly increased its client base.

Clive Owen LLP recently introduced new policies, which are based on two-way flexibility and trust to support the existing teams and encourage talented, motivated people to join the firm. This includes an innovative 9-day fortnight working flexible working and dress code policies. The firm is focussed on cementing its place as one of the largest independent firms in the region with exciting growth plans.

Chris Beaumont, partner at Clive Owen LLP said: “Opening an office in Middlesbrough has positioned us to take advantage of all the developments in the area, including the Freeport and the recent regeneration projects across Middlesbrough such as the Boho 8, which is the latest of the successful Boho quarter developments, and the first of Middlesbrough’s Digital City projects to be completed.

“Our growth has reflected the rise of Tees Valley into the area in which to do business and we are proud to be based here, creating employment and contributing to a thriving business sector.”

Lee Watson, tax partner at Clive Owen LLP said:  “Middlesbrough has developed significantly over the last few years to include the £22.6m Teesside Advanced Manufacturing Park (TeesAMP) development providing 11 hectares of prime location for innovative advanced manufacturing companies, along with the exciting addition of Teesside University’s £13.1m Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre (NZIIC), set for completion in April 2023 and placing Middlesbrough firmly at the heart of the UK’s green industrial revolution.

“Tees Valley is a great place to work, and Clive Owen LLP is a great firm to work for.  We offer career development opportunities, the prospect of working on an enviable client base, and flexible working patterns to support work life balance. We believe that this gives us a competitive advantage and helps us recruit and retain the best talent.”

Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said: “In the most challenging of times, incredibly exciting things are happening in Middlesbrough.

“Our town is fast becoming the go-to place for ambitious, fast-growing businesses, creating well-paid job and opportunities for local people.

“It’s fantastic that Clive Owen LLP are part of that movement with their own exciting growth and job creation with plenty more to come.

“Congratulations to all within the business on celebrating their first year in Middlesbrough.”