Chemicals firm plans job drive after site revival

A process sector firm says it will create jobs after hailing the impact of a factory revival.

Tioxide Materials has committed to adding dozens of staff to its Greatham site, based near Hartlepool.

Bosses say the blueprint will take the base’s workforce to nearly 270 in coming weeks and more than 300 by 2027.

They add the workforce push will support ongoing efforts to resume the site’s second manufacturing stream early next year, which will restore annual production capacity to 150,000 tonnes.

It comes after LB Group last year bought the titanium dioxide pigments industrial complex – latterly operated by Venator Materials UK, which had been hit by economic difficulties – and restarted production in August.

Karen Askwith, managing director at Tioxide Materials, which has also opened new headquarters in Stockton-on-Tees, said: “The last seven weeks have flown by, and we have achieved so much in a short space of time. 

“We are ahead of where we wanted to be in terms of production volumes and grades produced.

“Restarting a major manufacturing facility is a significant undertaking, and doing so while continuing our recruitment drive is incredible.

“It’s been particularly heartening to welcome back so many former colleagues, and the progress made so far gives us a very strong platform to build on.”

Want your business, product or service to be seen regionally and nationally? Bdaily helps you get your story in front of the right audience, every day. Find out how Bdaily can help →

Join more than 55,000 subscribers by signing up to our daily bulletin each morning here.