Entrepreneur to deliver new industrial estate

A business owner is preparing a new commercial development to support growing demand for industrial space in County Durham.

Liam Hunt, managing director of furniture maker Ambic Manufacturing, will lead the creation of a new industrial estate in Pelton Fell, Chester-le-Street, with work scheduled to begin in early 2026. 

The project will deliver at least 26,500sq ft of manufacturing and business space, marking a significant step in the entrepreneur’s expansion beyond his core manufacturing operations.

Phase one will see the construction of seven units ranging from 1000 to 2300sq ft, designed to attract small light-industrial firms. 

A second phase will follow immediately, transforming a larger neighbouring site into a mixed-use development with strong early interest from fitness, hospitality and business operators. 

With optional mezzanine levels, total floor space could reach more than 50,000sq ft.

Liam said: “We’re seeing significant demand for quality industrial space in the region, and this development will give local businesses room to grow. 

“The ambition for the project, and in particular for Phase 2, is to create something different – a business environment that supports both work and wellbeing, while capitalising on our position on one of the UK's most popular cycling routes.”

Liam’s progression into commercial property development builds on a fast-paced entrepreneurial journey that began in 2019 when he acquired Ambic Manufacturing and powder-coating firm Stella Blast at the age of 29. 

He has since launched several complementary businesses, including joinery specialist Vespa Contracts, campervan conversion firm Custom Fit Campers and an upholstery manufacturer.

Liam says his participation in the Government-funded Help to Grow: Management Course Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University, helped shape his approach to scaling and strategic planning, saying it proved “invaluable” to his approach to business expansion.

He added: “Before I joined the Help to Grow: Management Course, I was working in my businesses rather than on them. 

“The programme gave me a structured approach that answered questions I didn't even know I had. 

“It helped me step back and look at my businesses with peripheral vision rather than tunnel vision. 

“It also gave me the strategic mindset I needed to manage multiple businesses at once while also expanding into new opportunities.

“The structured thinking I developed helped me evaluate this opportunity properly – looking at the numbers, understanding the strategic fit, and ensuring it was a sustainable opportunity.”

Flora Hamilton, executive director of the Small Business Charter, which delivers the Help to Grow: Management Course, added: “Liam exemplifies entrepreneurial spirit and demonstrates how far it can take you when paired with expert insight, practical business knowledge, and 1-2-1 mentoring. 

“Liam has demonstrated a natural flair for business, but it’s been fantastic to see how the Help to Grow: Management Course has helped him channel his energy and talent strategically. 

“This has supported not just the growth of Ambic Manufacturing, but also the portfolio of businesses he has established and acquired over the past six years. 

“Help to Grow: Management, delivered by our network of Small Business Charter accredited business schools, exists to empower leaders like Liam to scale up, build resilience, and realise their full potential.”

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