Member Article

£750k investment fuels Durham print company's relocation project

Durham-based print company Newton Press has invested £750k in a large-scale relocation and expansion project.

The long established, family-run print company has been backed with a £130k financial package from UK Steel Enterprise, the Tata Steel business-support subsidiary.

Made up of a £50k unsecured loan and an £80k grant from UKSE’s Access to Finance scheme, backed by the government’s Regional Growth Fund, the finance supports a project that will create four new jobs and safeguard an existing 13-strong workforce.

With new premises on the Aycliffe Business Park in Newton Aycliffe, the company, specialists in graphic design and full colour printing, has also acquired five additional pieces of high-tech machinery including digital finishing equipment.

Newton Press has two of the world’s best environmentally-friendly printers. It uses water and chemical-free machines and vegetable-based inks so creates no contaminated water waste. The use of FPC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) paper from sustainable sources and a wood-burning biomass installation also gives the company the zero carbon footprint that is winning them business.

Customers of all sizes come from every business sector and the company prints everything from books, magazines, catalogues, leaflets and labels to tickets, t-shirts and business stationery.

Started by Syd Howarth in 1963, the business is now run by sons Stuart, Christopher and Paul with other family members and a team of designers and printers. Master Printer Syd Howarth remains involved with the company’s Newton News, the UK’s first free local newspaper.

“The investment from UKSE has been a huge help, allowing us to do some of the things on our wish list that otherwise we could not have done at this stage,” said Stuart Howarth. “We were turning away work because of lack of capacity in our previous premises which were 75 years old and originally an ‘Aycliffe Angels’ ammunitions factory.

“Now we have the space, controlled temperature and environment as well as the equipment we need to meet that demand from existing and new customers. We are committed to continuous investment in new technology to stay competitive on quality, turnaround and price and this move follows a major investment in equipment two years ago.

“Our zero carbon footprint is winning business from major companies and PLCs as they are looking for suppliers that can prove their green credentials. We have ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, the environmental management standard, which is unusual for a company of our size,” he added.

Sarah Thorpe of UK Steel Enterprise, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, said: “This is a strong expansion project from a well established and very experienced business. We were delighted to be able to help with a package that included both loan finance and a grant.”

Newton Press also secured support from its bank HSBC.

Allison Routledge, Commercial Relationship Manager, said: “HSBC has been involved with Newton Press for about five years now and we are pleased that we were able to work with UK Steel Enterprise on this major project and support a Northern company that is growing so successfully.”

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