(L - R): Paul James, head of Gestamp’s Tallent Academy, Samantha Vassallo, managing director of Horizon Works, Ben Gilhespy, director of operations at EMN and Kaye Collins, network manager, EMN.

North East business support event programme to launch at new training academy

North East engineering and manufacturing companies will be given support in marketing and business development activities, with the launch of a new event series next month.

The Engineering and Manufacturing Network (EMN) and its affiliate partner, B2B marketing company Horizon Works, are kickstarting a new programme of monthly Marketing Lunch and Learn events at Gestamp Aycliffe in Newton Aycliffe on Tuesday December 7 2021.

The event will be hosted by Gestamp at the Tallent Academy, a 4300 sq ft training facility adjacent to its Newton Aycliffe site which has been set up to further develop its workforce and support the North East business community.

Gestamp Aycliffe is part of Gestamp, an international group dedicated to the design, development and manufacture of automotive components.

The academy includes research and development capabilities, robot cells, specialist welding bays, tooling facilities, and in the near future an employee wellbeing facility will be introduced.

Horizon Works, which is based at Northumberland Business Park near Cramlington, Northumberland, supports innovators in complex industries and offers a wide range of integrated marketing services across strategy, PR, design and digital.

Samantha Vassallo, managing director of Horizon Works, said: “We’re delighted to be launching the Marketing Lunch and Learn events at Gestamp’s Tallent Academy – a fantastic venue built to support businesses in the North East.”

Ben Gilhespy, director of operations at EMN, said: “The last 20 months have proven that we need to be adaptable to survive in business. One of the most important survival tools is a marketing strategy that continues to represent your business and its plans.”

Paul James, head of Gestamp’s Tallent Academy, said: “We are extremely excited about welcoming Horizon Works, EMN and colleagues from the manufacturing sector to our Academy here in Newton Aycliffe.

“We are very proud of our Academy facility and see this as our Centre of Excellence for our people’s development, as well as a hub for the wellbeing needs of our workforce and their families.”

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