SPRING 10
NEWS
>> Costain’s vote of confidence Engineering and construction group Costain, has established a new North East operation for its Energy and Process business. Costain’s Teesside Operation is based in Stockton and is part of its specialist Energy & Process division. The new base on Teesside forms part of Costain’s strategy for growth. Initially, the business will employ 30 people based in its office on Preston Farm Industrial Estate, which will provide engineering services for new facilities and revamps including conceptual design studies, Front End Engineering Design (FEED) and Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC). The new operation will build on previous projects executed by Costain in the region. Peter Laing, general manager Teesside Operations at Costain Energy & Process, said: “This investment demonstrates the confidence Costain has in the North East of England and the region’s role in realising our growth plans for the Energy and Process Division. “Although the recent economic downturn has taken its toll on the traditional industries in the Tees Valley, we’re confident the region will be at the forefront of the massive investment needed to develop the new energy and process technologies that are required to underpin the economic and environmental security of the UK . This is an exciting time for the sector and organisations with long-term vision can see real opportunities here in the years ahead.” “Costain selected the Tees Valley as the most attractive option for its new operational centre, not just because of the established process industry cluster but also because there is a large, highly skilled workforce resident in the region.”
>> SME opening Smaller businesses are being urged to look at generating their own energy from renewable sources following a Government announcement. The introduction of “feed-in tariffs” in April effectively hands businesses and householders large subsidies for smaller scale renewable energy developments. Environment experts from North-East law firm Ward Hadaway say that the move will make projects such as solar panels, wind turbines and small hydro-electric schemes much more financially viable – and may open up new revenue streams. Stephen Campbell, partner and head of environment at Ward Hadaway, said: “Until recently, most companies which developed their own energy from renewable sources tended to be larger businesses such as Nissan which could afford to invest in the
ENERGY: RENEWABLES & OFFSHORE BQ Supp Issue 9.indb 7
Role for region: Peter Laing, Costain energy and process general manager Teesside operation “We will initially seek to employ 30 people at Stockton and have ambitions to grow this number over the next couple of years.” Mark Lewis, technical manager for NEPIC said: “The investment Costain is making in the Tees Valley demonstrates the position and reputation the area’s energy and process industries have in the marketplace. These sectors are at the heart of the long term future for the area and for the UK. “Costain’s decision shows that the work being done by organisations, including NEPIC, to attract investment is having an effect. The engineering capability in the Tees Valley is an essential part of the appeal to investors and securing such a big name as Costain is a very important step forward for the region’s industry.”
infrastructure needed to make such projects stack up financially. “However, the introduction of FITs opens up that possibility to a much wider range of businesses, as well as individual households.”
>> Free recycling IT company Sumlock is offering individuals and organisations the chance to reduce their carbon footprint with a new range of ‘green’ computers and a specialist recycling service. Sumlock, which set up on Tyneside in 1976, specialises in providing green technology for individuals and organisations across the region. The Killingworth-based firm has formed key partnerships with global corporations such as NEC and Intel.
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The firm has also teamed up with the global technology firm NEC to offer a free recycling service, giving people the chance to dispose of their old computers and related equipment in a safe and secure way. The service, which is available across the North East, includes free collection and environmentally conscious disposal of the equipment, regardless of its age, make or model, as well as providing users with a certificate showing that their goods have been recycled to WEEE standards as set by the Environment Agency. “These days everyone is looking for a faster, more comprehensive computing experience,” said Darren Towart, Sumlock’s account manager, “but they still want to play their role in protecting the environment.” >>
SPECIAL REPORT | SPRING 10 22/04/2010 13:51