EMN Membership News
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...
SPOTLIGHT ON: HALL AND ANGUS
In our latest ‘Spotlight On’ feature we chat to Trevor Hall, who together with business partner Gordon Angus, runs Rainton Bridge-based Hall and Angus Group. The Hall & Angus company provides innovative and specialist solutions to substance and alcohol misuse...
EMCON NEWS: STADLER RAIL UK RETURNS AS HEADLINE SPONSOR
Swiss rail manufacturer, Stadler, has announced that it will once again support EMCON, acting as headline sponsor for the second time. This decision relates to the company’s objective of establishing a regional supply chain in the north east, as it aims to grow in...
MEMBER NEWS: GATESHEAD COLLEGE CHOSEN TO DELIVER HALFORDS APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME
One of the country’s best-known vehicle servicing and repair firms has teamed up with Gateshead College to launch an apprenticeship programme in the North East. Halfords Autocentres is rolling out a national apprenticeship programme with eight colleges around the...
EMN RESPONDS TO GOVERNMENT’S INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY ANNOUNCEMENT
Ben Gilhespy, Operations Director of the Engineering and Manufacturing Network (EMN), welcomed today’s Government announcement that one of the 12 new “Institutes of Technology” is being located in the region and created at New College Durham. He said: “EMN has a...
MEMBER NEWS: GEM TRAINING STRENGTHENS PARTNERSHIP WITH GREENCROFT BOTTLING
A Peterlee training company is helping one of the UK’s largest contract wine bottlers to fully utilise its share of the apprenticeship levy. GEM Training is the long-term partner of County Durham’s Greencroft Bottling Company and is delivering a number of training...
MEMBER NEWS: TAIT WALKER UNVEILS NEW IDENTITY
North East accountancy and wealth management firm, Tait Walker, has unveiled its new as it adopts the name of national accountancy association MHA. The rebrand of the company sees MHA added to Tait Walker’s title whilst the firm also adopts the brand of its global...
SPOTLIGHT ON: GREAT ANNUAL SAVINGS GROUP
In our latest Spotlight On feature we chat to Phil Andrew, Associate Director of Customer Experience, at Great Annual Savings Group, the Seaham-based company which has just been announced as our latest affiliate member. Tell us more about Great Annual Savings Group...
MEMBER NEWS: KEY APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCED AS E-MAX SYSTEMS CONTINUES TO GROW
ERP and MRP software provider, E-Max Systems, has welcomed another colleague to its growing customer support team. Michael (Mike) Brownless’ new role will see him focusing on the key area of solution implementation for E-Max’s existing and new customer base. Zeynel...
10TH BIRTHDAY FOR TANFIELD LEA BUSINESS CENTRE
More than 120 employees from companies based at a Durham business centre came together to help celebrate its 10th anniversary. Among them were staff from businesses that have been based at Tanfield Business Centre, in Tanfield Lea, Stanley, since it first opened ten...
MEMBER NEWS: TAIT WALKER GEARS UP FOR CONTINUED GROWTH
Independent accountancy firm Tait Walker is setting its sight on further growth in 2019 following a year of new appointments and a brand new service offering. In 2018, Tait Walker created 35 jobs in the region across a range of roles including an events coordinator,...
BEN GILHESPY BLOG: WHY AREN’T MORE BUSINESSES EXPORTING?
In his latest column, Engineering and Manufacturing Network operations director Ben Gilhespy explores the world of export, analysing why there aren’t more regional companies choosing to sell their products overseas and what support is available to help encourage more...
MEMBER NEWS: JIM SHEDS LIGHT ON BUSINESS DIVERSIFICATION
An experienced design engineer is utilising waste glass and gin bottles to diversify his business into the arts and crafts retail market. Jim Box, Managing Director of Peterlee-based Be Smart Solutions, saw a gap in the market to customise discarded glass bottles...
GREAT ANNUAL SAVINGS GROUP CONFIRMED AS NEW AFFILIATE PARTNER
Great Annual Savings Group (GAS) has been confirmed as a new affiliate partner, and preferred energy supplier, for the Engineering and Manufacturing Network (EMN). The Seaham-based business savings company replaces Utilitywise, which entered administration earlier...
MEMBER NEWS: GATESHEAD COLLEGE LAUNCHES SECTOR TRAINING ACADEMY
A group of North East firms have pledged their support for a trailblazing training academy to tackle skills shortages in the manufacturing and engineering sectors. Fifteen firms have signed up to be part of the Ford Engineering Academy, a pioneering training programme...
FINANCE AND CASH FLOW THE THEME OF NEXT EMN EVENT
Two years ago one of our very first events was based around looking at financial options for your business. This revolved around the various options for maximising your cash and identifying ways of improving cash flow, finding ‘hidden’ money, sourcing an exit strategy...