LATEST NEWS
AFFILIATE MEMBER NEWS: MUCKLE RETAINS IIP GOLD WITH INDUSTRY LEADING SCORES
North East independent law firm for businesses Muckle LLP is celebrating having renewed its IIP Gold status and Health and Wellbeing accreditation until 2022, after 92 per cent of its people agreed Muckle was a great place to work. Investors in People has over 14,000...
MEMBER NEWS: KITE PACKAGING LAUNCHES NEW RANGE OF INDUSTRIAL KNIVES
Employee-owned packaging company Kite Packaging has launched a new range of industrial knives and cutters that ensure safe precision in the warehouse. The company is a member of the Engineering and Manufacturing Network (EMN) and is based at Follinsby Park in...
MEMBER NEWS: EDM ZONE NOMINATED FOR PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL AWARD
Newcastle based engineering specialists EDM Zone has been nominated for an Industrial Cadet Award 2019. Nominated alongside two other businesses in the SME Employer 2019 category, EMN member EDM Zone will discover if they are taking the award back to Newcastle on the...
AFFILIATE MEMBER NEWS: MUCKLE ADVISES ON GLOBAL HOSPITALITY DEAL
A team of lawyers from Newcastle based law firm for businesses, Muckle LLP, have advised global hospitality business Sandman Hotel Group on the acquisition of its 59th hotel – the Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links in Dublin. The Sandman Hotel Group, part of the...
MEMBER NEWS: RENOVO SOLUTIONS DOUBLES SALES WITH FLOWLENS SOFTWARE
Engineering and Manufacturing Network (EMN) member and EMCON Incubator Zone exhibitor Renovo Solutions has doubled in size thanks to a software package from Flowlens. Flowlens' time saving processes and real-time dashboards have helped Renovo deliver sustainable...
MEMBER NEWS: PROTECH LAUNCHES CHARITY INITIATIVE
A Peterlee company which refurbishes old computers and laptops for redistribution back into the community has launched a new charity campaign. Protech has started the “Pay it Forward” campaign, which aims to level the IT playing field, helping people with a ‘if we...
AFFILIATE MEMBER NEWS: MUCKLE APPOINTED TO NEPO AS SUPPLIER
Leading regional law firm for business, Muckle LLP, has been appointed to the North East Purchasing Organisation (NEPO) for eight legal service specialisms. Following the invitation to tender for NEPO’s £60million multiple lot procurement framework, Muckle has been...
EMCON 2019 NEWS: EVENT HAILED A HUGE SUCCESS AS BUSINESSES PLEDGE RETURN
Dozens of businesses have pledged to return to EMCON 2020 as they pursue leads to new business made at last week’s expo. Social media has been buzzing with positivity since the event with hundreds of comments on the show and how successful it had been. Over 100...
EMCON NEWS: FIFTEEN COMPANIES EXHIBITING WITHIN THE INCUBATOR ZONE
This year’s Incubator Zone will feature 15 companies which are all looking to grow within the region. They are: Customise It Now (pictured) GT Coatings Raisco Workshop Supplies LED Supply and Fit Tritec Taylored Fit Physio Jayne Appleby Orca Cleaning Services Adapt...
MEMBER NEWS: GT COATINGS PLANS FOR GROWTH AFTER MACHINERY INVESTMENT
A fast-growing powder coatings company which counts some of the region’s biggest firms among its clients is planning for further expansion. GT Coatings, based in Newton Aycliffe, has invested heavily in cutting-edge machinery to help improve efficiency and...
EMCON NEWS: ZF ANNOUNCED AS VIP COMPANY
ZF, the Peterlee-based leader in the production of specialist safety camera equipment for vehicles, has been confirmed as a ‘VIP company’ at this year’s EMCON. The company is the one of several regional big hitters to be announced, all of which will be taken around to...
AFFILIATE MEMBER CASE STUDY: GREAT ANNUAL SAVINGS GROUP
This latest case study for EMN showcases the advice and support affiliate member Great Annual Savings Group (GAS) was able to give to manufacturer Elring Klinger to help the company save money on its energy bills. ELRING KLINGER Company Background With a history...
SPOTLIGHT ON: HORIZON WORKS
In our latest Spotlight On feature, we chat to Samantah Vassallo, who is managing director of marketing company Horizon Works, which is one of this year's EMCON silver sponsors and a member of EMN. Tell us more about Horizonworks and the companies you work with....
EMCON NEWS: FULL LINE UP FOR INDUSTRY LEADERS’ PANEL
Three regional business leaders who have embraced innovation, social media and digital technology to grow their business will join Heather Mills on this year’s EMCON Industry Leaders’ Panel Debate. The theme of the event will be ‘Transforming Business and Embracing...
MEMBER NEWS: MUCKLE ANNOUNCES KEY APPOINTMENT TO GROWING TEAM
Leading law firm for businesses and private clients, Muckle LLP, has appointed Luke Busbridge to its growing Agriculture, Estates and Rural Property team. Luke, a private client lawyer specialising in trusts and succession planning and strategic advice for landed...
EMCON NEWS: FAT HIPPO ANNOUNCED AS EMCON CATERER
Fat Hippo, the North East-founded burger chain, has been announced as the catering provider for this year’s EMCON expo. The food group, which now has three restaurants and outlets in the North East and a recently opened food kiosk in Sheffield, will offer up a range...
MEMBER NEWS: JUST WILLIAMS LAUNCHES SALES TRAINING ACADEMY
Just Williams, a Stockton-based outsourced sales company, has today launched a brand new arm of the business. The Just Williams Sales Academy will offer a wide range of masterclasses and training courses to help businesses develop their own sales strategies in-house....
AFFILIATE MEMBER NEWS: MUCKLE APPRENTICE SOLICITORS ARE FIRST CLASS
Two apprentice solicitors from a leading North East law firm are celebrating after winning the prestigious Northumbria Law School prize for performance following some first class results. Lauryn Hellewell and Paula Normington, of Newcastle-based Muckle LLP, have just...
MEMBER NEWS: GB BELTING ‘SOLID PLASTIC BELTS’ CASE STUDY
Case study supplied by GB Belting - Solid Plastic Belts Most food touches a conveyor belt at some time and the two most critical belt related process issues facing the food processing industries are bacteriological and plastic contamination which can cause both major...
SPOTLIGHT ON: LOCKTON COMPANIES LLP
In our latest Spotlight On feature we chat to Colin Donohoe from Lockton Group, the world's largest independent privately owned insurance brokers. Here Colin chats to Leanne Fawcett about the company's global growth and its plans for the future. Tell us more about...
MEMBER NEWS: APPOINTMENTS FOR MUCKLE’S GROWING CONSTRUCTION TEAM
The North East’s leading independent law firm for businesses Muckle LLP has promoted specialist Adam Aston to partner and recruited solicitor Sophie Crosby to its growing construction team. Adam, who joined Muckle as a trainee in 2006, advises on a diverse range of...
MEMBER NEWS: GAS ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIP TO ACCELERATE GROWTH
Great Annual Savings Group (GAS) is delighted to announce a major new partnership with Manchester-based Tosca DC, a fund serving the UK’s most ambitious businesses to deliver market-leading growth. Founded in 2012 by Chief Executive Brad Groves, GAS operates across...
EMN ANNOUNCES HEATHER MILLS AS EMCON 2019 HEADLINE SPEAKER
The Engineering and Manufacturing Network (EMN) is delighted to announce that Heather Mills is keynote speaker at this year’s EMCON event. Visionary businesswoman Heather Mills has expanded her international award-winning plant based vegan company VBites by opening...
HIGH SPEEDS TRAINS MADE BY HITACHI COME HOME
New high-speed trains built in the county came home when an Azuma stopped at Durham for the first time. London North Eastern Railway’s (LNER) new fleet, which employs Japanese bullet train technology, was built by Hitachi's UK manufacturing team at the company’s 700...
SPOTLIGHT ON: HINDLEY CIRCUITS
In our latest Spotlight On feature, we chat to Richard Whitehead, CEO at Hindley Circuits – a new member to the Engineering and Manufacturing Network – which specialises in providing PCB electronic assembly services. Tell us more about Hindley Circuits We are an...
EMN AMONG THE JUDGES FOR THE ANNUAL ‘MADE IN THE NORTH EAST AWARDS’
The annual awards for the region’s manufacturing sector, Made in the North East Awards, have been launched by Insider Media and Ben Gilhespy of the Engineering and Manufacturing Network is once again on the judging panel. Entries are now being sought for the 11...
POP-UP SPACE GIVES FOOD AND DRINK PRODUCERS A ROUTE TO MARKET
A three-month long pop-up programme to give food and drink producers from across County Durham the chance to showcase their products and explore potential routes to market launches this week. The event is a collaboration between All Durham, the brainchild of...
SPOTLIGHT ON: EXCELPOINT
In our latest Spotlight On feature series, Leanne Fawcett chats to Ian Brown, managing director of award-winning software supplier, Excelpoint, about the support it is giving to businesses worldwide to help them embrace digitisation and the transition into the fourth...
MEMBER NEWS: MUCKLE MARKS £500,000 OF CHARITABLE GRANTS
Following its most recent grant to a Gateshead charity, North East law firm Muckle LLP has now donated a landmark £500,000 to local worthy causes through its charitable fund. Oasis Community Housing, based in Gateshead, has received £1,000 from the Muckle Fund to help...
SPOTLIGHT ON: IA GROWTH
In our latest Spotlight On feature we chat to Graham Sleep, a co-director of IA Growth, a business advice consultancy which works with growing organisations to act as a 'floating board of directors' to support them through their journey. Tell us more about IA Growth?...
PROGRAMME LAUNCHES TO HELP FIRMS TAP INTO SPACE TECHNOLOGY SECTOR
An innovative programme in the North East is looking to help more businesses take advantage of the growing space technology sector. Space technology, including photonics, which uses light, is playing an increasingly critical role in resolving some of the world’s...
EMCON NEWS: STADLER AND HITACHI MAKE NEXUS METRO SHORTLIST
Nexus, the public body which owns and manages the Tyne and Wear Metro, has today announced the three firms that remain in the running to design, build and maintain its new train fleet. The three firms will be invited to make best and final offers this summer after...
AFFILIATE MEMBER NEWS: MUCKLE LLP SUPPORTS OFFSHORE ENGINEERING MBO
A Newcastle-based offshore engineering firm has expanded and rebranded following an impressive 12 months of growth and a management buyout. Fabricom Offshore Services, which has a history spanning over 30 years, was a subsidiary of French energy group Engie until it...
AFFILIATE MEMBER NEWS: GAS ANNOUNCES NEW WASTE PARTNERSHIP
Great Annual Savings Group (GAS) has once again expanded its B2B customer offering by teaming up with a fellow County Durham business. Shredding expert Shred Base deals with secure, GDPR-compliant document and product disposal for businesses across the UK. GAS will...
£4.9m COUNTY DURHAM GROWTH FUND LAUNCHES
More than 300 new jobs could be created with the launch of a £4.9M fund to help County Durham’s small and medium sized businesses to expand and grow. The three-year County Durham Growth Fund has been launched by Business Durham, the economic development arm of Durham...
AFFILIATE MEMBER NEWS: FOUR PROMOTIONS AT MUCKLE LLP
Four lawyers at Muckle LLP have been promoted to senior roles in recognition of their specialist expertise, success and overall growth in corporate client work. Sarah Forster, Adam Rayner and Matthew Walsh have all been promoted to partner and Amy Wanless has been...
SPOTLIGHT ON: JACKSON HOGG RECRUITMENT
In our latest Spotlight On, we chat to Chris Beevers, head of technical at affiliate member Jackson Hogg Recruitment, which has confirmed its return to the EMCON engineering and manufacturing event as delivery partner for a second year. You’re returning as EMCON’s...
MEMBER NEWS: HORIZONWORKS AT NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CONFERENCE
B2B marketing agency Horizon Works will be helping to highlight the strength of Northumberland’s manufacturing sector next month, at Subcon, a major national industry conference. The company, which is headquartered at Northumberland Business Park near Cramlington,...
BACON BUTTY CLUBS STILL HAVE A PLACE, SAYS BEN GILHESPY
In his latest column, Ben Gilhespy, Operations Director of the Engineering and Manufacturing Network (EMN) looks at the importance of networking and why ‘bacon butty’ clubs still have a place when it comes to raising the profile of your business. Networking has become...
MEMBER NEWS: MUCKLE APPOINTS NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR
Leading North East law firm for businesses, Muckle LLP, has announced the appointment of a new finance director. Claire Long has joined the independent commercial law firm following a successful career at Procter & Gamble, where she was an associate finance...
MEMBER NEWS: DOUBLE PROMOTIONS AT E-MAX SYSTEMS
E-Max Systems is delighted to announce that two key staff members, Fraser Walker and Fred Okwute, have recently been promoted to Technical Support Manager and ERP Projects Manager respectively. Both new roles have been created after an internal operational review...
SPOTLIGHT ON: EDM ZONE
In our latest Spotlight On feature, we chat to Roger Wilson from Newcastle-based manufacturing company EDM Zone, to find out more about the business, the many awards it has been successful in securing and its plans for the future. Tell us more about EDM Zone? We are a...
MEMBER NEWS: ENTREPRENEURS ENJOY GROWTH WITH THE SUPPORT OF DCI PROGRAMME
A business incubator is looking for its next cohort of ambitious entrepreneurs after helping its first eight small businesses achieve national recognition and investment funding. Durham City Incubator, which is based at Salvus House, at Aykley Heads, Durham, offers...
EMCON NEWS: 20 NEW JOBS CREATED BY INCUBATOR ZONE COMPANIES
Twenty new jobs have been created since a support programme to help County Durham engineering and manufacturing companies to grow launched. The Incubator Zone was added to the EMCON line up in 2017 to attract those companies who had never before exhibited at the...
MEMBER NEWS: MUCKLE SUPPORTS EQUIPMENT RENTAL FIRM’S ACQUISITIONS
A North East-based equipment rental business is flushed with success after completing two major acquisitions estimated to boost revenue in the region by over £12m. Nixon Hire, which delivers quality plant, tools, machinery, accommodation and portable toilet products...
HEATHER MILLS URGES BUSINESS LEADERS TO ‘MAKE A DIFFERENCE’
Business leaders have been encouraged to 'make a difference' with their success by one of the UK's most philanthropic, celebrity entrepreneurs during her visit to the North East at the region's largest business conference. Speaking to an audience of more than 300...
EMN IN NORTH EAST TIMES MAGAZINE
In the latest issue of North East Times, Ben Gilhespy looks at the challenges businesses face between sticking to what they know and introducing more innovative processes into the way they work: ...
MEMBER NEWS: FOOD PRODUCERS GIVEN HELP TO GET THEIR PRODUCTS TO MARKET
Small and medium sized food producers from County Durham are snapping up support to get their products to market. The Durham Food and Drink Network is helping producers of all sizes, who are making tasty and distinctive food and drink products but don’t know how to...
EMN EVENT: SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN THE WORKPLACE
Following the success of our previous substance misuse event we have been asked to provide another event aimed firmly at employers of all sizes to ensure your continued compliance in what can be a very complicated minefield of legalities and HR issues. The management...
MEMBER NEWS: E-MAX SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES LATEST INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP
E-Max Systems, a leading UK manufacturing ERP software provider, has announced that the North East’s pioneering battery manufacturer, Hyperdrive Innovations, has chosen the company to power its key manufacturing and business operations. This appointment reinforces...