SEAHAM’S business community has benefited from major investment and job creation in the 12 months since a group to support its growth launched.
The Seaham Business Park Group was launched in October 2016 to encourage businesses to work together to create opportunities which help the area prosper.
Driven by a steering group of Andrew James Worldwide, Seaham Safety Services, Aspen Wolf and Spectrum Business Park, the area has attracted major inward investors including Northumbrian Water Limited and FM Coatings, while existing employers including Great Annual Savings Group, House of Mooshki and Autumn Brewing Company have continued to expand.
Steering group member Gordon MacPherson believes the growth of the business community is down to the fact the area is now regarded as a location where companies of all sizes can enjoy success.
Gordon, who also owns training software company Moralbox, said: “There’s no doubt Seaham has gone from strength to strength since the group was launched 12 months ago.
“There’s a real feel good factor here now and that’s evident by the constant flow of good news emerging from the area, as employers of all sizes invest and create new jobs.
“The good thing is it’s not just the bigger companies who are experiencing success. Seaham Safety Services has enjoyed a real purple patch in terms of winning new business, while Moralbox is really establishing itself as the go-to training software packages for companies who invest in staff development.”
In June Northumbrian Water Limited moved onto Spectrum Business Park, accommodating two of Spectrum 5’s three floors and occupying 27,000 sq ft of prime office space.
The offices house around 200 highly skilled employees including Northumbria Water staff and NWL’s framework partners Esh/MWH, Interserve and MMB, who all deliver the company’s large infrastructure projects.
Paul Wellstead, the property developer of Spectrum Business Park, said: “Securing Northumbrian Water as our newest tenant was a real coup for Spectrum Business Park and demonstrates just how far the park has come since I started creating my vision over 10 years ago.
“It’s also testament to the improvements which are evident, and the investment made, across Seaham, which is now home to some of the region’s fastest growing companies.
“The Seaham Business Park group has provided valuable and informative events to local occupiers as well as business support channels and networking opportunities. Provision of this support infrastructure is essential to the continued success at Seaham and potential occupiers are always delighted to learn that they can plug into a connected business community.”
The Northumbrian Water announcement came just months after Hull-based ResQ moved onto Spectrum.
The company has already recruited 250 people with 250 jobs in the pipeline, with their plan to eventually house a 1,200-seat contact centre at Spectrum.
Steve Metcalfe from NSK Peterlee is chairman of the steering group, which also includes representatives from the Peterlee Business Park Group.
He said: “What’s been achieved in the past 12 months has been significant and is very much down to the community feel which the group has helped instill.
“The businesses located here have a real pride in their area, while those located elsewhere see Seaham as a prime location to take their plans for growth to the next level, which has of course been endorsed by high profile announcements including Northumbrian Water Limited moving into the area.”