AN abundance of skilled, flexible workers has prompted a major local employer to continue investing in the region.

Thorn Lighting’s decision to move its UK headquarters from Hertfordshire to its award-winning plant in Spennymoor may have raised some eyebrows. But there were sound business reasons behind the move north.

Thorn operates in more than 100 markets round the world, including Australia and Hong Kong, but it still regards County Durham as a key part of its future nearly 60 years after it first launched a factory in the region.

The £28m production facility and £1.3m Academy of Light training centre at Green Lane Industrial Estate represented the largest investment the company has made in one of its plants when it was opened in 2009.

The modern purpose-built lighting plant houses 595 staff and has been hailed by business leaders and politicians as a shining example of how to combine traditional engineering skills with world class technologies.

Kelly Herrick, director at Thorn Lighting, explained that the decision to name Spennymoor as the hub of its UK operations made perfect sense to the country’s largest lighting manufacturer.

She said: “While the decision was made for a variety of reasons, the primary motive behind the move was so we could recruit the right employees for the needs of our business. From our existing operations, we were confident that the North-East had an abundance of talent to choose from.”

Thorn has continued to invest in the development of its employees to ensure they are equipped with cutting-edge skills in a variety of disciplines, from production to marketing and management.

Ms Herrick continued: “If other leading brands are to continue to see the region as an attractive and viable investment opportunity, access to the right people is crucial.

“ Links between businesses and local employment providers is key, ensuring that people from across the region are ready and equipped for employment. For this to happen, businesses must also invest in the development of their workforce.”

The business recently launched a new division aimed at helping customers become more energy efficient.

Thorn Energy Solutions forms part of a business strategy launched by the firm, as it looks to increase turnover by ten per cent in the coming year.

The changes come after Thorn’s market share had started to fall in recent years but it remains one of the region’s largest private employers.