Family-run steel specialist wins contract for multi-million North East council HQ

A family-run steel specialist has won a contract to work on a multi-million pound project that is creating jobs in the North East.

Finley Structures, based in Newton Aycliffe, has won a contract to fabricate 12,000 metres of steel for Durham County Council’s new offices on the banks of the river Wear.

Work to build new headquarters for the region’s council began earlier this year, paving the way for a new multi-million-pound business district at Aykley Heads, creating up to 6,000 new jobs and delivering a £400m boost to the county.

As part of the construction approximately 250 new jobs have been created by main contractor Kier, which will be building the new headquarters.

Finley’s managing director, Julie Raistrick, commented: “After the completion of the Riverwalk development in 2018, it’s great to be back in Durham, working on another project which is on our doorstep.

“We work on projects across the country, but as a North East firm, we love working on local projects, particularly in Durham – given that our founder, John Finley, was born just a few short miles away.

“We’re now helping to change the skyline of Durham for a generation, so we’re very proud to be leaving our footprint on the huge developments that are happening in the city.

“It is vital that local contractors are being given the opportunity to work on such an important local project, which will be Durham County Council’s new headquarters for decades to come.”

Phil McDowell, operations director of Kier Regional Building North East England and Scotland, added: “We are proud to be working collaboratively with local company Finley Structures to deliver the new steel structure for Durham County Council’s new headquarters.

“We are dedicated to leaving lasting legacies in areas in which we build. Currently, 95 per cent of our supply chain for this project is within a 40-mile radius and we have three apprentices learning all about a career within the built environment.”

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