L-R: Josey Wardle from Charge your Car, Wynayrd Park Development Manager Matt Johnson and Neil Ellison from Stockton Council with the quick charger.

A Tees Valley business park is all geared up to welcome electric vehicles (EVs) after installing a quick charging point – marking another milestone in the North East’s Charge your Car programme.

The new charging point is at the entrance to 700-acre Wynyard Park on Wynyard Park Avenue and is easily accessible from the A19 and A689.

It brings the number of quick charging points in the region up to eight and the number of standard points to over 300, with 76 currently in place in Tees Valley.

Matt Johnson, development manager at Wynyard Park, said: “This will be of benefit to both site tenants and visitors, whilst also being a massive boost for our long-term development plans.

“Our vision for the site is to create a high-class mixed use sustainable community that includes a hospital, homes, shops and leisure facilities. Environmentally-friendly facilities such as this charging point reflect that vision and we are delighted with its installation.”

Josey Wardle, project manager for Charge your Car, said: “Wynyard Park is one of the North East’s leading business locations and is well positioned close to all of the region’s major road links. Additionally, Stockton Council has been a real advocate of Charge your Car since the programme launched, so we were really keen to see a quick charger installed in the south of the region which will help to plug a gap in the network.

“Quick charging points are vital to ensure that EV drivers can make longer journeys around the region and beyond as they charge an EV in under 30 minutes. Charge your Car has therefore placed these points at strategic locations across the North East and has a number of others in the pipeline.”

As a result of Charge your Car – the North East’s Plugged in Places scheme – the region now boasts the UK’s most comprehensive EV charging point network.

The Wynyard Park quick charger can be accessed by Charge your Car members for free and will also be available to visitors to the region as part of the new Pay as you Go network at £5 per charge.

Stockton Borough Council has been instrumental in developing the network of charging points in Tees Valley. Councillor Mike Smith, the council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, said: “The installation of the quick charger at Wynyard Park, the first for Tees Valley, is a welcomed boost for the region’s EV charging point infrastructure. It marks an essential next step in the development of EVs, extending the range of these vehicles and providing drivers with the flexibility to travel unrestricted around the region.”

In addition to Wynyard Park, the North East currently has quick charging points located at Berwick, Alnwick, Hexham, Washington, Dalton Park, at the Metrocentre in Gateshead and on the Felling Bypass. The region was the very first to install a public quick charger (at the Metrocentre) and now has more quick chargers than any other part of the UK.

The North East Charge your Car project was launched in early 2010 after North East England was named as one of the first three areas to put in place a comprehensive Electric Vehicle infrastructure and was given funding to support the installation of charging posts in car parks, on streets, at residential and commercial locations.

Grants are available for any organisation wishing to have a charging point installed on their premises. For further information on the funding available visit www.leadthecharge.org.uk or call the Charge your Car team on tel: 0191 490 2474.

Elliott Group has vacated premises in Stockton and moved into a high-quality 1,200 sq ft office within the Teesside business park’s Evolution complex.

From there, staff co-ordinate the work of a team of field service engineers.

The company which has its HQ in Pennsylvania, USA, designs, manufactures and services a range of turbo machinery and is renowned for quality, efficiency and reliability.

Its team of Teesside-based engineers serves a range of customers both locally and in Aberdeen, including high-profile companies such as BP, Shell, Nexen Oil, Marathon Oil and Talisman Energy.

The move to Wynyard Park is designed to boost the company’s brand in the North-East. It says it looked at other potential sites but none was able to cater so well for it needs. In particular, it says it was impressed with Wynyard Park’s flexibility during negotiations.

Matt Johnson, Development Manager at 700-acre Wynyard Park, said: “I am delighted to be able to welcome an international company of Elliott Group’s stature.

“It further demonstrates how a combination of high-quality premises and support services allied to our great location close to the A19 and A1 is enabling us to continue attracting new businesses despite the tough economic times.

“We would invite other companies that might be considering re-location or expansion to get in touch to find out how we can help them.”

Companies wanting to find out more about business opportunities at Wynyard Park should call (01740) 661000, email enquires@wynyardpark.com.

Guests enjoy themselves at the Charity Ball.

Councillor Paul Baker hosted last Friday’s black tie event at the exclusive function room venue at Wynyard Park, and the early indications are that more than £9,000 was raised for Butterwick Hospice in Stockton and the Royal British Legion.

Around 250 guests helped raise the money by buying tickets for the ball, whilst a raffle also took place.

Guests enjoyed a three-course dinner and entertainment from band Hip Operation.

Councillor Baker said: “I’d like to thank everyone who supported the event, including many local businesses. Their generosity in helping us to raise so much money for two very worthwhile causes is much appreciated.

“I would also like to thank Wynyard Park for once again being such good hosts and ensuring a great night for all.”

Jeff Hind from the Wynyard Rooms said: “We are proud of our links with the Mayor of Stockton and we are delighted to have been able to help Councillor Baker raise vital funds for these two charities.

“Quality and attention to detail is at the heart of everything we do, and it delights us when people come back year after year. That is the ultimate endorsement.”

The Wynyard Rooms has developed a reputation as one of the Tees Valley’s top function facilities and many other events have proved to be sell-out successes. For more information about the Wynyard Rooms and forthcoming events call (01740) 661000.

Kimberley Anderson, Wynyard Park’s new Executive Support Manager

Kimberley who has worked at the 700-acre business park on Teesside since 2007, is now responsible for tenant liaison and ensuring that businesses on site receive the highest possible standards of service and care.

She is also managing the recently-created reWards tenant benefit scheme and all on-site networking events.

Kimberley who has spent much of her time at Wynyard Park managing the “front of house”, said: “Working on the front-line, as it were, I have had the opportunity to really get to know the tenants and find out what they want from a business park.

“It is an exciting time at the moment and Wynyard Park is continually developing and moving forward. The whole team is dedicated to making Wynyard Park a business park that is second to none – a place where people want to come to work.

“I am passionate about my new role, and I believe the knowledge and experience I have gained over the last four years will enable me to engage with tenants and provide services that deliver real benefits.

“With over 60 businesses currently on site and others re-locating regularly, I am committed to ensuring the park is synonymous with quality on all levels.”

Managing Director Paul Barber said: “Kimberley is a much-valued member of the team and her promotion is testament to the commitment she has shown in delivering the long-term vision for the park. As we continue to grow she will play a vital role in our continued success.”

The Wynyard Rooms at Wynyard Park, a 700-acre business park, is hosting a Bollywood-themed evening of food and entertainment on January 27.

The event will begin with a drinks reception at 7pm and this will be followed by an authentic three-course Indian dinner, live entertainment and Bollywood and Bhangra music and dancing.

Jeff Hind from The Wynyard Rooms said: “Dinner is to be prepared by renowned chef Dinesh Rawley of Sachins Restaurant in Newcastle, the country’s finest Punjabi restaurant, in association with our own staff.

“We hope people will book tables and come along for an evening of quality food and entertainment that promises to be great fun.”

The dress code is smart casual, cocktail dresses or saris. Tickets cost £35 per person and are available by calling Fatema Ahmed at The Wynyard Rooms on (01740) 661000 or e-mailing fatema.ahmed@thewynyardrooms.com

L-R: Paul Barber, Managing Director of Wynyard Park, Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton Council, Tony Barnes, Managing Director of Sladen Estates, John Wood, Chairman of Tolent Construction and Gordon Hewling, a director of project managers GVA.

The 350,000 sq ft unit on Wynyard Park is to be run by Leeds-based Clipper Logistics who will distribute clothing for George at Asda.

Clipper Logistics and Asda are jointly investing around £15 million in fitting out the unit to create a state-of-the-art garment processing facility.

It is estimated that between 400 and 500 people will be employed on the site once it becomes fully operational -scheduled for September next year – and many other jobs will be created during construction.

The development – one of the largest pre-let industrial deals in the North-East for many years – is a joint venture between British Airways Pension Trustees Limited and Sladen Estates Limited.

It has been hailed as a massive boost for the local economy and, in particular, 700-acre Wynyard Park which continues to boom despite the global economic downturn.

Paul Barber, Managing Director of Wynyard Park Ltd, said: “We are delighted that Wynyard Park has been chosen as the site for this development as it will bring huge benefits to the local area, both in terms of jobs and investment.

“I’m sure that our prime location with easy access to the main road network, including the A19 and A1, was a key consideration, along with the range of support services that we offer.

Councillor Bob Cook, the leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, also welcomed the development, saying: “It is fantastic to see such significant investment from yet another major company, bringing with it hundreds of new jobs.

“Our borough has so much to offer businesses and we are working closely with our private sector partners to raise its profile and attract new business development. Announcements such as this are supporting our vision for the on-going regeneration of Stockton Borough and the wider Tees Valley – it is certainly an exciting time to live and work here.”

Mr Barber added: “This development caps a strong year for Wynyard Park which is a remarkable achievement given the state of the global economy. We have achieved some notable successes in terms of attracting new companies and we continue to receive regular enquiries. We have also made significant progress in developing our site in line with our wider vision of creating a flagship sustainable mixed community where people both live and work.”

Earlier this year, Huntsman, one of the world’s leading chemical companies, announced plans to create a new global business centre for its pigments division at Wynyard Park, relocating around 300 staff from Wilton and Haverton Hill.

Tony Mannix, Managing Director of Clipper Logistics, said: “Wynyard Park offers an excellent location for the new facility and we have been working with Sladen Estates over the last six months to ensure the building is designed to meet all of our needs.

“The unit will initially serve the needs of one of our major clients, George at Asda, and will then be further developed to accommodate other shared use customers, creating much-needed new employment in the area.”

Major Rosemarie Williams and Major Keith Williams with (front row, left-right) Jacob Rahman Casans, Wynyard Park’s Executive Support Manager Kimberley Anderson and Emily Ricketts.

Wynyard Park and its resident companies have been collecting gifts in support of The Salvation Army’s Christmas Present Appeal 2011.

Around 50 gifts were handed over to The Salvation Army recently for distribution to local families facing hardship over the festive season.

Major Keith Williams and his wife Major Rosemarie Williams from The Salvation Army visited 700-acre Wynyard Park in person to collect the gifts and they expressed gratitude to all who had contributed. They were joined by two children, Emily Ricketts and Jacob Rahman Casans, who attend the Kids 1st nursery on Wynyard Park which itself contributed to the gift appeal

Major Keith Williams said: “Every child benefitting from our campaign receives a main gift, a smaller gift and a couple of stocking fillers. We are so grateful for the support given by Wynyard Park and its resident companies, their generosity really will make a difference.

“It can be really moving to see how families react when they receive help via our appeal. On one occasion in the past, we handed a mum a bag containing some presents for her children and she just stood and wept because she had nothing.

“When you see that, it brings home to you the value of our annual appeal and the support we receive from companies such as Wynyard Park because Christmas can be an incredibly difficult time for some families.”

Kimberley Anderson, Executive Support Manager at Wynyard Park, said: “We have a long tradition of collecting at Christmas for the Salvation Army and I’d like to thank our tenants for their support in making this year’s appeal a success.

“If our gifts help to bring some Christmas joy to just a few local families, the appeal will have been so worthwhile.”

Matt Johnson, Wynyard Park Ltd’s Development Manager, welcomes Martin Woodall, Driver’s Managing Director, Project Services.

It has taken a 2,500sq ft office suite within Wynyard Park’s Evolution complex after vacating premises in Yarm.

Martin Woodall, Managing Director, Project Services, said: “We really only started developing our Teesside operation around two years ago and since then we have gone from a standing start with two or three people to employing over 25 people out of the office.

“We have simply outgrown Yarm and we are now entering the next phase of our development.”

Driver uses its extensive in-house technical knowledge and wealth of experience in planning and project management to provide a comprehensive integrated service to a wide range of clients in the construction and engineering sectors.

It has a number of other offices around the UK and also has bases in South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman.

The company chose to move its Teesside office to 700-acre Wynyard Park, after considering a number of possible locations.

Mr Woodall added: “Wynyard Park is considered to be a regional business park as opposed to a local business park so that was an obvious appeal.

“It is right on the A19 and very close to the A1 so that it means that we have got a North-East office just 35 miles from Newcastle. It is also well situated for Hartlepool, Stockton, Middlesbrough and Darlington. Our new premises also bring us closer to potential customers on Wynyard Park

“The office is very modern which supports our aim of creating a pleasant workplace for all who are based here, and the support facilities at Wynyard Park are also second to none.”

Matt Johnson, Wynyard Park Ltd’s Development Manager, said: “We are delighted to welcome a company of Driver’s stature.

“It is a real vote of confidence when companies recognise what we are trying to achieve at Wynyard Park. The site is much more than just a business park – we want people who work here to feel like they belong to a community and are part of something special.”

Wynyard Park Ltd started out in 2005 and has since attracted more than £250 million pounds of private investment into its business park which is currently home to more than 60 companies employing in excess of 1,500 people.

Mark Roe from the Allensway Centre, centre user Norman McGuiness, Rob Sharp from Stockton Riverside College and Anna Stone, Facilities Co-ordinator at Wynyard Park.

The site on Wynyard Park has been given rent-free to the Allensway Centre in Thornaby which is run by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

This follows an appeal earlier this year by Wynyard Park Ltd, the owners of the 700-acre business park, for an organisation to get involved in running the plot behind its Wynyard Park House HQ as a market garden turning out healthy, home-grown produce.

Mark Roe from the Allensway Centre said: “We are delighted to have been given this opportunity and we would like to thank Wynyard Park Ltd for their fantastic support.

“People attending our centre have different levels of disability. For some, the garden will provide a therapeutic area that they can simply visit and enjoy. For others, there will be opportunities to get involved in growing produce, developing new skills and confidence in the process.”

He also issued an appeal to local companies to support the project by donating materials such as gravel, flagstones or even a shed. He can be contacted on (01642) 527892.

Wynyard Park Ltd funded the initial clearance of the site and students from Stockton Riverside College’s Prince’s Trust training programme have been helping to prepare the land for cultivation, including creating raised vegetable beds accessible by people in wheelchairs.

Rob Sharp from the college said: “The Prince’s Trust training programme is all about preparing students for work and as part of their course they have to do a four-week community project. When we heard about the garden we thought it was an ideal opportunity. Our students have been able to develop a range of work-related skills, whilst also helping others along the way.”

Anna Stone, Facilities Co-ordinator at Wynyard Park, added: “We are delighted to have been able to provide the Allensway Centre with this opportunity, and the students from Stockton Riverside College have done a tremendous job. It is good to see a piece of land that was standing idle being put to such a good use.”

Some of the fruit and vegetables produced in the garden will be used in dishes served at Wynyard Park’s popular in-house Java Café bistro which is based in Wynyard Park House.

There are also plans to further develop the garden in the future, including the creation of a sensory herb garden.

The event is to be held at The Wynyard Rooms, the exclusive function room venue at Wynyard Park, on Friday February 17 next year.

Money raised at the event will be donated to Gretton Court, a care home in Hartlepool for people with dementia, and Butterwick Hospice in Stockton.

Guests are guaranteed an amusing and witty after-dinner speech from one of the legends of the green baize, ably supported by comedian Lea Roberts and top MC Jerry Earl.

As well as winning the World Snooker Championship, John Parrott is also a former UK and European Snooker Champion. He was captain on the BBC quiz show A Question of Sport for six years and has worked for the BBC’s snooker and horse racing commentary teams for many years. He is an avid Everton FC fan.

Jeff Hind from The Wynyard Rooms said: “John has an infectious sense of humour and charismatic personality. We’re looking forward to a great night.

“I would urge people to support the event and help us to raise much-needed money for two very worthwhile local charities which carry out so much good work.”

Tickets are priced at £45 each and include a three-course dinner. Lounge suits are the required dress code. Doors open at 7pm and dinner will be served at 8pm.

For further information or to buy a ticket call The Wynyard Rooms on (01740) 661000.