Shining a spotlight on inspiring growth stories

With investment fuelling significant market expansion, a growing workforce and an order book listing a number of high profile projects, Cleveland Group epitomises perfectly our North East Fastest 50 list, writes Damien Charlton.

Having started as a traditional container sales business, the company has evolved into a multidivisional operation.

Using the support of Lloyds Banking Group’s private equity arm LDC, it has seized the initiative, rolling out new ventures that are perfectly tailored to clients’ shifting needs.

It also stands at the forefront of environmental change, with the market-leading sustainability measures fitted across its unit range demonstrating a business not only aware of its impact on the landscape, but one that is committed to positive change.

And it is doing so all while retaining its founders’ passion for the North East and their peoplecentric ethos, facets which are being further augmented by Andrew Thompson and his fellow recent arrivals, who are each adding considerable industry experience and insight.

The innovation, agility and downright hard work shown by the team at Cleveland Group is exactly what we at Ward Hadaway celebrate each year in the Fastest 50, which is now in its 24th year.

We work day in, day out with such brilliant SME businesses, and so it gives us great satisfaction to be able to give something back by shining a spotlight on these inspiring growth stories each year.

That Cleveland Group placed 16th in its first appearance on the North East Fastest 50 list is a tremendous achievement, and one from which the team should take immense pride.

Damien Charlton is a partner and head of the commercial department at Ward Hadaway. He also leads the firm’s Fastest 50 programme. A highly experienced lawyer, he has been advising clients across sectors including manufacturing, engineering and healthcare on company and commercial matters for more than 20 years.

Damien Charlton