Member Article

Stockton ranks high in business stakes

Stockton-on-Tees has been identified as in the top ten per cent of local authority areas as a best place to do business.

That’s according to a national survey, conducted by The MJ (The Municipal Journal) and Local Futures Group, which assessed the performance of each area against environment and infrastructure, economic performance and human resources.

It showed Stockton as a place that welcomes new businesses, secures investment and funding, has strong transport links, offers a good quality of life and leisure facilities, alongside the availability of a highly-skilled workforce and good economic performance.

Councillor Bob Cook, Stockton Council leader, said: “We’re delighted to learn of our position in the top ten per cent of areas to do business – but not surprised.

“We take a ‘can-do’ attitude to business and support all businesses and investment - from the first-time entrepreneur to established multi-national organisations.

“While we will celebrate the news - we’re not complacent - and we will continue to work with businesses, funders and training, skills and education providers to secure further investment, jobs and economic growth for the area and the wider Tees Valley.”

Stephen Catchpole, managing director of Tees Valley Unlimited, the private and public sector Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for Tees Valley, said: “Stockton-on-Tees has excellent transport and infrastructure links, a low operating cost base as well as a highly skilled workforce.

“The area also has a business community bursting with talent and innovation, in particular in engineering and technology, as well as a fantastic range of business accommodation for all types of business.

“We’re really pleased that the Tees Valley is receiving increasing recognition as a great place to do business.”

Michael Burton, editorial director of The MJ, said: ’The survey by Local Futures analysed all 325 local authority areas through three key themes, economic performance, human resources and environment and infrastructure, each of which had a further five sub-sets of indicators so the research was extremely thorough.“

“Any councils appearing in the top ten tables are clearly doing well.’

As evidence of the survey findings, the following companies have recently announced a range of investment in Stockton including Darchem are to build an £8m precision manufacturing base in Stillington, Nifco UK’s investment in a new £12m research and development facility, a new £320m power plant being built by Air Products, Billingham, and Japan’s Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies investment in a new manufacturing facility at its Billingham site.

Steve Bagshaw, managing director at Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, said: “Stockton and the wider Tees Valley has a highly-skilled workforce who have a proven track record in innovation in technology and engineering.

“This, alongside a supportive business and public sector community and great transport and infrastructure links, makes Stockton a great place for businesses to succeed.”

Stockton’s wide range of business accommodation has also helped to attract businesses including attractive office units based along the banks of the River Tees as well as high-quality business parks, with open green areas around the premises and easy access to both coast and country locations.

Through Tees Valley Unlimited LEP and the neighbouring North-East LEP, businesses and local authorities are working together to secure an outstanding track record in transforming investment into real economic growth in our local economies.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .