Two South Tyneside businesses expand into new HQ following funding support

Two related South Tyneside companies are moving into a large shared premises, allowing them to grow far quicker than would have been possible at separate sites.

Zenith People and Zenith Training have come together under one roof at Monkton Business Park in Hebburn after receiving support from The Growth Fund, which was set up to help companies looking to expand in Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland and the wider North East.

Zenith People is a recruitment business covering engineering and manufacturing, technical and IT, commercial, such as marketing, sales, finance and customer service, and construction.

Zenith Training supports companies with recruitment and training of apprentices, upskilling existing staff and accessing other funding sources. The companies took over two floors of a building in Merchant Court in June, allowing both businesses to align their work much more effectively and collaborate on opportunities.

Managing director Angela Anderson commented: “Culturally it brings the two companies closer together and allows for a much more integrated workforce. From a commercial perspective it allows us to have much more effective conversations and look at new business more easily and service our clients better.

“So there’s the positive impact on the staff, bringing us all together and aligning the skills, and the commercial impact of allowing us to grow the business far quicker through more direct communication.”

The move has come at an important time for the businesses which operate in a market that is candidate scarce.

Alan Metcalfe, commercial director, who is also vice-chair of the Advanced Manufacturing Forum and Chair of South Tyneside Chamber of Commerce said: “There aren’t enough individuals available to fill all of the vacancies. Whether that be for apprenticeships or skilled roles, there just aren’t enough.

“At the same time, overheads are increasing and businesses are struggling. What we’re trying to do is integrate the funding that we have, developing more effective methods of recruiting and looking where we can add value to new and existing clients, without incurring costs where we can.”

The companies, which currently employ 45 people, have plans to grow and increase the number of staff at their new South Tyneside base.

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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