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Business award nominee on the road to success

A recently launched transport logistics business based at The Quadrus Centre, Boldon, has gone straight into top gear, with a nomination in the prestigious South Tyneside Business Awards 2014.

CC Resource Solutions was formed in May this year when 44-year-old Mark Chalmers, a recruitment and logistics specialist, decided the time was right to put the break on being an employee and launch his own venture which, in five short months, has picked up work with a number of top brands in the haulage sector.

Although living in Stamfordham, near Newcastle and with a host of potential business units to locate his business, Mark decided The Quadrus Centre was ideal due to its location on the A19 and easy access to Newcastle, Sunderland and North Tyneside.

Initially moving into a small office, Mark started CC Resource Solutions with just a chair, a desk and the conviction that he could not only strike out and do the job on his own, but that he could offer something different in a competitive market.

Mark, said: “To start a new business you really do need to take a leap into the dark but it was very gratifying that not long after I started I began to win work from both new and established contacts.

The business concept was simple; to assemble a database of eligible HGV drivers, providing extra training when necessary, for transport and haulage companies to call upon, in confidence, with a minimum of fuss, as and when they’re needed.

Fast forward a few months and Mark’s gamble is very clearly paying off, with CC Resource Solutions already securing service contracts with a number of high profile clients including DHL, Owen Pugh, Ramage Transport and Port of Tyne Logistics. Mark has also been able to expand his team, with two permanent members of staff joining him at The Quadrus Centre.

“We’ve had a great response since we started and I think that part of it is that we’re in a fantastic location, what we call the A19 corridor, to be able to effectively service clients from Northallerton to Cramlington and everywhere in between. Everybody in The Quadrus Centre’s team has been hugely supportive to us since we started and people genuinely seem to like coming to meet us here. It’s been great for networking too, as there always seems to be somebody who knows somebody to introduce you to.”

The centre, which has seen a 10% increase in the number of tenants during the last 12 months, has benefited from recent significant investment by South Tyneside Council to include superfast broadband and ICT facilities. Other investment has focused on ensuring it is an even more welcoming place for businesses, staff and visitors, with Cafébar One providing top quality refreshments. Meanwhile, the revamped Lake Room has proved to be the perfect spot for seminars and conferences.

As if securing major contracts, moving to bigger premises and taking on new additions to the team within six months of operating wasn’t enough, the rapidly growing CC Resource Solutions is one of the three companies in the borough to be nominated for a South Tyneside Business Award in the ‘Newcomer of the Year’ category.

Mark said: “If we were so fortunate, it would not only be an honour to be awarded ‘Newcomer of the Year’ but such recognition for the business at a very early stage in its development would give great credibility to CC Resource Solutions and build confidence amongst potential customers that we are people that can be trusted. Our hope is that it would open a lot of doors, allowing us to expand into new sectors. Also, it would certainly look great on our letterheads!”

This year’s South Tyneside Business Awards takes place at the Quality Hotel in Boldon, very close to Mark’s base at The Quadrus Centre, and is set to honour the very best businesses from the borough. As well as the ‘Newcomer of the Year’ award , there is also recognition for the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ and ‘Apprentice of the Year’ as well as a services award and innovation and technology award, with the winners of each award automatically entered into the race to be crowned ‘Business of the Year’.

There will also be a special award honouring an individual who has formed an integral part of the business community.

The South Tyneside Business Awards take place on Thursday October 23 at the Quality hotel, Boldon. Tickets are priced at £50 per person or £500 for a table of 10.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Bradley O’Mahoney Public Relations .