A CONTRACTOR has been appointed to take TeesAMP Advanced Manufacturing Park in Middlesbrough from blueprint to reality.

Robertson North East has been commissioned to construct phase one of the development and the first units will be ready for occupation inDecember.

To add to the great news local firm Nationwide Structures, based inStockton, has been appointed as steel fabricator and around 90 per centof the 750 tonnes of steel will come from British Steel at Redcar.

Geoff Hogg of Cleveland Property Investments, who is working withMiddlesbrough Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) tobring the £55million park to life, said: “It is fantastic that all the work thathas been going on in the background since Business Secretary Greg Clarkvisited in September has paid off.

“We are in talks with a number of companies who are interested in movingto TeesAMP – bringing high-quality advanced manufacturing jobs withthem – and that’s what it’s all about.”

Cllr Lewis Young, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive member for EconomicDevelopment and Infrastructure, said: “I’m delighted to see this majornew addition to the economy of the Tees Valley reach another importantmilestone.

“TeesAMP will bring long-lasting benefits in terms of jobs, skills, prosperityand further investment – and the appointment of a local steel contractor isjust the latest boost to the local economy.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “It’s great that construction will soonbegin, meaning the site will be transformed into a home for world-classinnovative companies, bringing high-quality jobs for local people.

“I’m delighted that some of our brilliant Tees Valley businesses are being drafted in to provide their services, demonstrating how our investment is already working for the good of the region.”

Phase one will include 180,000 sq ft of high quality manufacturing and office accommodation across 14 units.

Robertson, one of the largest independently owned construction companies in the UK, has its North East headquarters in Gateshead.

Elliot Robertson, chief operating officer of Robertson Group, said: “The Tees Valley has an ambitious modern industrial strategy, and we are delighted to be part of such a crucial step in what is a nationally significant project.“

The jobs and investment TeesAMP will provide will deliver long-term prosperity for the region for generations to come.”

Garry Hope, managing director of Robertson North East, said: “We always seek to use as local a supply base as possible on our projects, and are pleased to have been able to sign two subcontractors located so close to the site.“

Given the strong steel heritage of the Tees Valley, it was particularly important that we were able to commission a local steel fabricator.

We will be continuing to seek Tees Valley businesses as suppliers for the project.”

Andy Dagnall, regional manager of Nationwide Structures said: “This contract is worth £1.3million to us.“We aim to use as much local steel as possible – around 90 percent will come from British Steel in Redcar. I think that’s about as local as you can get.“

Sourcing local materials is a huge benefit to industry in the area and we’re delighted to have been appointed.”Middlesbrough company Elemech has also been appointed to provide temporary electrics.

Image 1: From left, Cllr Lewis Young, Andy Dagnall of Nationwide Structures, Elliot Robertson of Robertson, Geoff Hogg of Cleveland Property Investments, Paul Fletcher of Elemech Ltd and Cllr Mick Thompson

Image 2: Robertson North East has been commissioned to construct phase one of £55million TeesAMP in Middlesbrough and take the AdvancedManufacturing Park from blueprint to reality. From left: Carl Pepper of Nationwide Structures, Stephen Brown of Dodds Brown, Des Cullen and Andy Dagnall of Nationwide Structures, Cllr Mick Thompson, Geoff Hogg ofCleveland Property Investments, Elliot Robertson, chief operating officer ofRobertson Group, Garry Hope, managing director of Robertson North East, Cllr Lewis Young, and Paul Fletcher and Adam Riley, directors of Elemech Ltd.

Editor’s notesAbout TeesAMPThe delivery consortium

* TeesAMP is the funded by £12.5m from Middlesbrough Council, £7.65m from Tees Valley Combined Authority, £2.3m from the SSI Taskforce and substantial private investment from Cleveland Property Investments

* The park represents a £55m investment

* Property agents for TeesAMP are Dodds Brown and Cushman & Wakefield

* Logic Architecture is designing the buildings

Phase one

* Phase one of TeesAMP consists of 180,000 sq ft of manufacturing space across 14 buildings ranging from 3,000 sq ft to 30,000 sq ft

* The buildings are designed to high standards, featuring substantial power supplies, high speed digital connectivity and created to BREEAM Very Good sustainability standards

* TeesAMP will address a national shortage of high quality buildings for the advanced manufacturing sector

* The first buildings in phase one will be ready for tenants in Spring 2019

* Phase one also includes a £25m anaerobic digester plant that will provide renewable energy to power TeesAMP tenants and feed into the national grid

Location

* TeesAMP is located just seconds from the A66 – linking the park with the A1 and A19

* Middlesbrough Railway Station is ten minutes’ walk from the site

* Durham Tees Valley International Airport is 15 minutes by car, with direct routes to Europe, Scotland and London

Impact on the economy

* The Tees Valley already adds more than £60bn to the UK economy each year

* TeesAMP will be home to at least 17 advanced manufacturing companies

* TeesAMP is expected to generate hundreds of millions of gross value added to the Tees Valley economy

Support for companies moving to TeesAMP

* The Tees Valley Business Investment Team will support companies applying for grants from the Tees Valley Business Support Scheme

* The Tees Valley Business Support Scheme is geared towards manufacturing and service sector businesses

* Grants of £10,000 and more are available to businesses

Site history

* The site is the former home of Newport Iron Works and Newport Dry Colour Works, as well as railway sidings, off the Darlington and Saltburn branch line

About Robertson

* Robertson is one of the largest independently owned construction, infrastructure and support services companies in the UK, with a strong confirmed order book, diverse income streams and a dedicated, expert workforce.

* Covering the entire built environment lifecycle, we operate throughout the UK, with offices across Scotland and the North and Midlands of England

* The group was established in 1966 by Executive Chairman, Bill Robertson CBE. His strategy of creating a broad range of companies – run as separate, fully resourced entities – has ensured strong growth, value-creation and career opportunities, and has led to the comprehensive group of well-run companies that exists today

* Robertson comprises 22 businesses, directly employing over 3,000 people. These include regionally based construction companies, off-site manufacture, timber engineering, facilities management and energy services, a capital projects business dedicated to public sector partnerships, property development, regeneration, civil engineering, building services, asset management, and housebuilding for the private and affordable markets

* A strong entrepreneurial culture – built on the foundations of innovation, productivity and sustainability – permeates the businesses

* Although Robertson encompass a variety of separate businesses and capabilities, it is one group with a common goal: working together to transform the built environment