Member Article

New identity and website for Peterlee’s business community

The drive to promote Peterlee as a leading business destination is taking a major step forward with the launch of a new identity and website.

The town’s three industrial estates, the South West, North West and North East, and Bracken Hill Business Park and Whitehouse Business Park, will all come under the newly created Peterlee Business Park brand.

And to support it a new website, www.peterleebusiness.co.uk, is also being created to help showcase the area and its vast and diverse business landscape to potential inward investors.

Both the branding and website, which is currently under construction, are being officially unveiled to the business community at the next meeting of the Peterlee Business Park Group on Friday, March 28. The meeting will also be attended by MP for Easington Grahame Morris.

Steve Metcalfe, HR Manager at NSK Bearings, is Chairman of the Peterlee Business Park Group steering group which was set up to drive forward the development of the new identity and website and give the wider group a more strategic focus to help realise the full potential of the area and promote everything it has to offer.

He said: “After the last meeting of the group and in response to feedback we got from local businesses, we felt we needed to look at the structure of the meetings to ensure attendees get the most from them, but also the overall identity of the area and how we position it as a premier North East business location.

“During the last three months the group has been undertaking a lot of behind the scenes work and has almost gone back to the drawing board in preparation for our next meeting at the end of March. This has included writing to local businesses to advise them of what we’re hoping to achieve going forward, conducting surveys with them, developing a new brand to support the Peterlee Business Park identity and creating a website which will go live to coincide with the next full group meeting.

“We feel now that we’re in a much stronger position to engage with local businesses and support them with their priorities and issues and also have the tools in place to showcase Peterlee to a new, diverse and widespread audience.”

The Peterlee Business Park Group steering group also includes Valda Goodfellow, Managing Director of fine dining catering equipment specialist Goodfellow and Goodfellow; Richard Egginton, Business Systems Manager from manufacturing firm Sotech; Joanne Urquhart-Arnold, Business Development Area Manager (East) for Business Durham; and Leanne English, Director of communications firm LEC Consultancy.

Valda Goodfellow added: “Peterlee is home to dozens of successful companies, from the well known multi-nationals like Caterpillar and NSK to the smaller firms which have their roots firmly in the area, and it’s our job to ensure we’re shouting about them and everything the area has to offer to potential investors.

“By working together, and with our support, they can help put Peterlee on the national and international map, encouraging businesses elsewhere to give real consideration to expanding into the area. We know success breeds success and by having a united voice, this area will benefit massively.”

Peterlee Business Park Group was formed by Business Durham to encourage companies across Peterlee’s industrial estates and business parks to share ideas, best practice and identify future opportunities, which will strengthen the area’s offering regionally, nationally and internationally.

During its first year, the focus was to address and resolve issues which members felt affected the image of the park including traffic congestion, road markings, illegal parking, litter, fly tipping, dog fouling and broadband connectivity in the area.

Over the next 12 months and beyond the priority is to showcase Peterlee as a premier business location, promote the achievements of businesses on the park, support the area’s growth and encourage a thriving business network which allows companies to share opportunities, learn from industry experts and gain exposure for the work they’re doing.

Grahame Morris MP has been a supporter of the Peterlee Business Park since its creation and will speak at the next full group meeting later this month.

He said: “I am delighted to support the Peterlee Business Park initiative that will help to advertise and promote the success and benefits of doing business in Peterlee.

“I am keen to see the expansion of business and the development of new employment opportunities within East Durham, and I will be interested in hearing from local businesses about their priorities and how we can help to achieve their key drivers to success.

“It is so important that businesses support one another to grow and help this area realise its full potential .In my capacity as the MP representing the area. I will do everything I can to help.”

*** The Peterlee Business Park Group will meet on Friday, March 28, from 8.30am - 10.30am at the OCN building, Palmer Road, on the South West Industrial Estate, Peterlee Business Park. To register your attendance or to find out more contact Leanne English on 07824 631950 or email info@peterleebusiness.co.uk. ***

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Leanne English .