24 Oct Seaham Business Network Group launches with huge success!

North East companies have joined together to give their support to the New Seaham Business Park group, which was officially launched this week.

Over 50 people from the Seaham and Peterlee business community attended the event at Seaham Hall Hotel to hear more about the group and how it will benefit them. Paul Wellstead, the developer of Spectrum Business Park has joined the group as a steering partner to support local businesses and Spectrum tenants as much as possible. 

The network is an extension of the hugely successful Peterlee Business Park Group which was launched by Business Durham four years ago to showcase the area to potential inward investors and help employers to grow.

Wellstead said “Seaham has been on a journey. A journey of regeneration, of recovery, investment and of job creation. I have agreed to be part of the exciting new Seaham Business Park business support group so that this journey can continue at full speed. The area is unrecognizable from 20 years ago and employers at Spectrum and other Seaham business locations have dramatically changed the landscape and created a catalyst for further growth.

Spectrum Business Park now employs around 1,500 people in our Grade A office space but there is room to attract even more employers. Through this new business network we can all benefit from a common platform through which we can work better, promote ourselves better and achieve all of our business goals.”

 Mark Ellison, of Andrew James UK, is one of three Seaham businessmen who has also agreed to join the existing steering group, which is chaired by Steve Metcalfe from NSK.

Ellison said: “We will shortly be moving into the area so I’m delighted to be part of this new group which will encourage businesses to work together and give the community a stronger voice.

“We are keen to forge new relationships with potential new suppliers and this is the perfect way to do that. We’ve attended a few of the Peterlee events and have found them very worthwhile and I think the extension of the group into Seaham will really help businesses in both areas.”

Businesses who attended the launch heard from Leanne English, steering group member and managing director of LEC Consultancy, which produces all communications on behalf of the groups.

Leanne said: “The Peterlee group has not only put the spotlight on our area for all the right reasons but has helped our businesses to grow.

“The challenge now is to replicate what we’ve achieved in Peterlee and support the Seaham business community to grow. From the positive response we’ve had to the launch, and the number of businesses who attended it, the suggestions are we can really make this group a success.”

Gordon MacPherson Jnr, from Seaham Safety Services, based at Spectrum Business Park, has also agreed to join the steering group, alongside other existing members Joanne Urquhart-Arnold from Business Durham; Kareen James-Rawson from Mecaplast and Richard Egginton from Sotech.

 Click here to find out more about Seaham Business Park networking group.