LATEST NEWS
FUNDING FOR INNOVATIVE BUSINESSES UNVEILED AT COUNTY DURHAM EVENT
County Durham and Wearside business owners looking for funding to help growth, create jobs and develop innovative products and services are being invited to an event that will help companies attract investment. North East Fund, a £120m investment pot delivering...
MEMBER NEWS: INVESTMENT FUND SUCCESS FOR MUCKLE LLP
Leading independent law firm Muckle LLP has advised Mercia Fund Managers (Mercia) on three regional investments from the North East Venture Fund (NEVF), supported by the European Regional Development Fund, in just three months. Lawyers in Muckle LLP’s Corporate team...
MEMBER NEWS: UP TO £700M OF LENDING AVAILABLE FROM LLOYDS
As part of Lloyds Banking Group’s national pledge to lend £18billion to UK businesses*, the Group expects to support firms in the North East with up to £700million** of lending during 2019. As part of the Group’s continued commitment to help British businesses...
MEMBER NEWS: GLOBALBRIDGE A COMPANY TO WATCH IN 2019
EMN member company Globalbridge has been listed as one of 19 companies to watch in 2019. Globalbridge was nominated by Paul Lancaster, founder of Newcastle Start-Up Week. GlobalBridge is a unique digital platform that bridges the gap between students, universities...
MEMBER MESSAGE: HAPPY NEW YEAR
Here at the Engineering and Manufacturing Network we'd like to wish all of our members, affiliate partners and the region's thriving business community a very happy new year. It's fair to say 2018 has been a year of many many highlights, and we've been delighted to...
SPOTLIGHT ON: MILLBANK SOLUTIONS
In our latest Spotlight On feature Leanne Fawcett chats to Mike George, owner of specialist risk management and security firm Millbank Solutions, to find out more about the company and his plans for the future. Tell us more about Millbank Solutions. Millbank Solutions...
OUR RE-BRAND TO THE ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING NETWORK IS CONFIRMED
A network which supports businesses within the engineering and manufacturing sectors has rebranded to reflect its growth regionally. County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network will now be known as The Engineering and Manufacturing Network (EMN). The name...
FUNDING BOOST FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN COUNTY DURHAM
Entrepreneurs who are part of an incubator designed to help companies grow and thrive in County Durham will now be able to access up to £10,000 of funding each. Durham City Incubator (DCI), based at Salvus House, in Aykley Heads, Durham, has recently launched, and is...
MEMBER NEWS: STEELCRAFT PLANS FOR EUROPEAN EXPANSION
A County Durham-based metalwork firm has set out ambitious plans to expand with a new online brand. Family-run company, Steelcraft Ltd, specialises in supplying architectural metalwork with a portfolio including balconies, railings, gates, handrails, stairs, ramps and...
SPOTLIGHT ON: MORALBOX
In our latest Spotlight On feature, Leanne Fawcett chats to John Dunnill from specialist training software company Moralbox, which was launched by John and business partner Gordon MacPherson two years ago. The company offers employers within sectors including...
MEMBER NEWS: APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED AT REPROTEC
North East based Reprotec UK, specialists in resin flooring systems and bespoke surface protection technology, has announced two appointments. Mr Elliott Lindsay, who joined the company at the age of 16 years, has been appointed to the senior position of Head of...
NATIONAL AWARD WIN FOR CDEMN
County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network (CDEMN) has won a prestigious national award. The support organisation was nominated at the Small Business Awards, which was hosted by CV- Magazine. Operations Director Ben Gilhespy has now been advised that CDEMN...
JACKSON HOGG’S EMCON PANEL DEBATE LINE-UP CONFIRMED
Recruitment specialist Jackson Hogg is hosting a world class panel of industry experts at an event showcasing the best of North East engineering and manufacturing. The question and answer session is being held as part of EMCON 2018 – the Engineering and Manufacturing...
SPOTLIGHT ON: EMCON HEADLINE SPONSOR STADLER RAIL UK
As well as the chance to meet potential clients and suppliers, and showcase your business to companies of all sizes from the engineering and manuacturing sectors, there’s also an added incentive for exhibitors and attendees at this year’s EMCON event. That’s because...
MOTORCYCLIST LAUNCHES WELDING BUSINESS AFTER NEAR FATAL CRASH
An engineer who suffered near fatal injuries when his bike collided with a car in County Durham has launched his own business as he continues his road to recovery. Dick Allaker from High Pittington was in an induced coma for three weeks following the accident at...
SPOTLIGHT ON: EMCON GOLD SPONSOR RM MANUFACTURING
We are delighted to announce that Newcastle-based RM Manufacturing, part of Royal Mail Property and Facilities Solutions Limited, is our second GOLD sponsor alongside Business Durham. Here we put the company under the spotlight to learn more about its products and...
DOZENS OF MANUFACTURING COMPANIES BOOK FOR EMCON
Dozens of manufacturing and engineering companies from around the region have booked their place at this year’s EMCON event. Among those to have confirmed they’ll be exhibiting are Advanced Handling, the Bignall Group, Advance Automation, Tinius Olsen and Hiatco. Also...
MEMBER NEWS: NICE NETWORK AGREES DARLINGTON FC SPONSORSHIP DEAL
North East unified communications specialist Nice Network Ltd has agreed a deal to become Darlington FC’s latest shirt sponsor. The deal, which is for two and a half years and subject to FA approval, will see the Nice Network logo spread across the back of Quakers’...
MEMBER NEWS: AKZONOBEL PARTNERS WITH COLLEGE TO UPSKILL WORKFORCE
Leading North East-based paint manufacturer, AkzoNobel, has joined forces with Northumberland College in order to upskill its workforce Having already created over 160 highly-skilled jobs as well as over 100 more in the local supply chain since opening its...
MEMBER NEWS: DYER TO CREATE 100 JOBS AFTER SECURING £1.95M INVESTMENT
Maven Capital Partners (“Maven”), one of the UK’s most active private equity houses, has, through its management of two regional funds, provided £1.95 million of capital to Dyer Engineering Ltd, the largest independent engineering business in County Durham. The North...
SPOTLIGHT ON: DARREN HANKEY OF HARTLEPOOL COLLEGE OF FURTHER EDUCATION
In our latest Spotlight On feature Leanne Fawcett chats to Hartlepool College of Further Education Principal Darren Hankey about the importance of apprenticeships and what the college is doing to support talented young people into employment. Tell us more about the...
BUSINESSES LEADING THE WAY IN INNOVATIVE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Businesses in the North East are leading the way in innovative product development. That’s the message from Ben Gilhespy, operations director at the newly rebranded The Engineering and Manufacturing Network. He believes companies in the North East are becoming more...
NEW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY PROJECT AIMS TO WORK WITH NORTH EAST PORTS
A new project that aims to pilot smart digital initiatives to boost trade and foster economic growth in North East ports has been launched. Digital and industry experts, academia, regional authorities as well as the Port of Berwick, Port of Blyth, Port of Sunderland,...
TRIBUTES PAID TO BUSINESSMAN GEOFF FORD
Tributes have been paid to businessman Geoff Ford, who has sadly died. Ben Gilhespy, Operations Director at the Engineering and Manufacturing Network, said: "This is a tragic loss for the industry and region. "Geoff was a truly inspirational leader whose drive and...
DURHAM FOOD AND DRINK NETWORK TO LAUNCH
A network to support County Durham food and drink producers is being launched. Durham Food and Drink Network is the fifth key strand of the Durham Business Opportunities Programme (DBOP), which is part of Business Durham. The network will enable small producers and...
AFFILIATE MEMBER NEWS: APPRENTICE SOLICITORS JOIN THE MUCKLE TEAM
Two new solicitor apprentices have taken their first seats in separate teams at leading North East independent law firm for businesses, Muckle LLP. Lauryn Hellewell has joined Muckle LLP though the North East Solicitor Apprenticeship (NESA) scheme, an alternative,...
EMCON 2018: INCUBATOR ZONE EXHIBITING FIRMS PLANNING FOR GROWTH
Companies from across County Durham who exhibited at EMCON for the very first time are putting in place plans to grow. Eighteen new or growing SMEs signed up to participate in this year’s Incubator Zone, which was a key element of EMCON 2018. The programme, which is...
COMPANIES PURSUING WORK AFTER THIS YEAR’S EMCON
This year’s EMCON 2018 has been rated as a huge success, with close to one thousand people passing through the doors. And now, one week on, exhibitors and visitors alike are now following up on leads and new contacts made on the day. The showcase event, which has been...
MEMBER NEWS: COLLEGE PRINCIPALS TO MARCH ON PARLIAMENT
Principals, staff and students from further education colleges across the North East will next week march on Parliament to demand increased funding after a decade of decline. The unprecedented joint action will see college CEOs protest alongside colleagues, learners...
MEMBER NEWS: REPROTEC CELEBRATES 30TH BIRTHDAY
Congratulations to North East based company, Reprotec, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. John Holmes, MD of Reprotec, said: “We at Reprotec are delighted to be celebrating our 30th birthday. We are an SME working across all industry sectors, and the success...
SPOTLIGHT ON: PHILIP CUNLIFFE, REGIONAL BUSINESS EDITOR AT INSIDER MEDIA
In our latest Spotlight On feature, Leanne Fawcett chats with Philip Cunliffe, regional business editor of Insider Media, the company behind the hugely popular Made in the North East Awards and Made in the UK awards. The Made in the North East Awards 2018 are being...
SPOTLIGHT ON: ASHGARTH ENGINEERING
In our latest Spotlight On feature, we chat to CDEMN member Ashgarth Engineering, the Consett-based manufacturer of precision-machined engineering parts. The company has grown significantly since launching in July 2017 and to support its ambitious plans for continued...
READ BEN GILHESPY’S SUNDERLAND ECHO PORTFOLIO COLUMN HERE
Ben Gilhespy is Operations Director at County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network (CDEMN). The organisation has 250 members from across the North East who want to tap into the network’s support and vast pool of expert partners who can facilitate their plans...
EU EXPERTS PRAISE ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECT
A project designed to help County Durham businesses to make financial savings through energy efficiency has been praised by European experts. Business Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP) received recognition from the Interreg Europe programme for the excellent support it...
SPOTLIGHT ON… LEC COMMUNICATIONS AND DESIGN
In our latest Spotlight On feature we chat to Leanne Fawcett, Managing Director of LEC Communications and Design, about what led to her launching the business in 2012 and how it has developed in the seven years since. What led to you launching the business in 2012? I...
NEW DATE ANNOUNCED FOR EMCON 2019
EMCON, the region’s biggest engineering and manufacturing expo, will return in 2019 on a new date. Historically the networking exhibition has been held on the third Thursday in October, however in response to exhibitor and delegate feedback the event will be now held...
MEMBER NEWS: TWO APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED AT MUCKLE LLP
The North East's leading independent law firm for businesses, Muckle LLP, has appointed two new trainee solicitors. Caroline Wood and Sarah Addison have started their two-year solicitor training within Muckle LLP’s Dispute Resolution Team and Banking & Finance...
MEMBER NEWS: PROFITS UP FOR LAW FIRM MUCKLE LLP
The North East’s leading Independent law firm for businesses, Muckle LLP has reported a steady rise in income and profit for year ending April 2018. Newcastle based Muckle LLP saw income increase from £10.8m to £11.3m with profit rising from £1.2m to £1.9m. Managing...
MEMBER NEWS: ENDEAVOUR ASSISTS IN ARC MANAGEMENT BUY-OUT
Arc Environmental Limited (Arc) has been acquired by two of its senior team in a management buy-out. Former Associate Directors Darren McGrath and John Ditchburn acquired the shareholding of the founder shareholders and were advised on the transaction by Clive Owen...
SPOTLIGHT ON: J DENHAM METALS
In our latest Spotlight On feature, Leanne Fawcett chats to Chris Trotter from fourth-generation family recycling firm J Denham Metals, which has two facilities in County Durham, one in Bishop Auckland and one in Wingate. Chris tells Leanne more about the business and...
SPOTLIGHT ON: TA WHITFIELD POLYMERS
In our latest Spotlight On feature, Leanne Fawcett chats to Dr Tony Whitfield, founder of Consett-based T A Whitfield Polymers Ltd, to learn more about the company, Tony’s plans to grow nationally and some of the hot topics facing the plastics industry. Tell us more...
SPOTLIGHT ON: CDEMN MEMBER DEMETER
In our latest Spotlight On feature, Leanne Fawcett chats to Liz Smedley from Demeter, the water management and monitoring company, based in Sedgefield. Here, business development director Liz talks about the history of the business, which was launched in 2008, their...
SPOTLIGHT ON: CDEMN MEMBER NECS CLEANING
In our latest Spotlight On feature, Leanne Fawcett chats to Gary Breach, managing director of NECS Cleaning, the Cramlington-based commercial cleaning company which was established by Gary in 2006. Here he tells us more about the company’s growth and its plans for the...
MEMBER NEWS: MANAGEMENT BUY OUT OF MANUFACTURING FIRM
Barnard Castle based Steel Fabricator S&A has announced the sale of the building fabrication side of the business in a management buyout, as a result of major changes at the company over the past two years. With the support of North East advisors, the Barnard...
MEMBER NEWS: HORIZON WORKS AWARDED GRANT TO SUPPORT EXPORT
A North-East based B2B marketing agency has been awarded funding to support its exporting activities in North America after winning a grant from Heathrow’s World of Opportunity SME Grants Programme. Horizon Works is one of only 20 companies throughout the whole of the...
MEMBER NEWS: ESL RECEIVES MAJOR NATIONAL ENERGY AWARD
Electek Solutions (ESL) have claimed an impressive bronze in this years National Efficiency Awards in September, no mean feat when you’re up against international energy players such as E.on Energy. ESL were awarded the accolade for the Multi-measure Project of the...
MEMBER NEWS: STILLER PLANS FOR GROWTH WITH OPENING OF DISTRIBUTION CENTRE
Newton Aycliffe family-run firm Stiller Warehousing and Distribution has created capacity for jobs growth with the opening of its new £2m distribution centre. After an eight-month construction project, which supported dozens of local jobs by utilising nearby...
SPOTLIGHT ON: ADVANCED HANDLING AND STORAGE
In our latest ‘Spotlight On’ sponsor profile, EMCON communications manager Leanne Fawcett chats to bronze sponsor Advanced Handling and Storage, http://advanced-handling.co.uk, the Shildon-based warehousing and material handling specialist, about their history and...
SPOTLIGHT ON: NICE NETWORK
In our latest Spotlight On feature, Leanne Fawcett chats with Nikki Lee, Head of Marketing at CDEMN affiliate member Nice Network, the Sunderland-based IT and technology solutions provider. The company recently underwent a major rebrand and as Nikki explains, also has...
£500M NEXUS STOCK REPLACEMENT WORK EVENT COMING SOON
CDEMN members are invited to attend an event in October highlighting the opportunities for North East businesses to be part of the £500m Nexus rolling stock replacement work. The North East LEP has organised the supply chain opportunities expo at the Stadium of Light...