A GOVERNMENT minister has praised the “impressive” efforts of one of County Durham’s biggest employers during a recent visit to the company’s site.
Mike Freer MP, who was appointed Exports Minister in 2021, paid a visit to global automotive manufacturer Gestamp on Aycliffe Business Park in Newton Aycliffe, at the end of last week.
During his visit, Mr Freer heard from Gestamp’s local and international managers on his tour and learned about the firm’s ambitious expansion plans, its investment in state-of-the-art research and development facilities and its track record on training young local talent.
Read more: 'Undercover' HGV will be on the A1 in North East to catch law-breaking drivers
As a multinational company which specialises in the design, development and manufacture of highly engineered metal components for the automotive industry, Gestamp exports almost 70 per cent of the products made in Aycliffe to Europe, the US, China and South America.
The firm, with its global HQ in Spain, has invested heavily in new technology and innovative manufacturing processes at its Aycliffe site, including a new R&D facility, and has also appointed an employee wellbeing lead.
Sedgefield MP Paul Howell, who arranged Mr Freer’s visit, said: “The Minister met with both local and international managers and was shown how the business had developed over the years and its incredible global reach.
“They are focused on continuing this and educated the Minister on the opportunities they see as their key customers evolve their businesses post covid and also embrace the transition to electric vehicles.”
Gestamp has recently invested in the 4,300 sq ft Tallent Academy which includes a wellbeing space for staff and focus on upskilling current workforce as well their future apprentices.
The facility houses its new R&D division as well as robot cells, specialist welding bays, tooling facilities, a medical area, physiotherapy suites, counselling rooms and an ‘R&R’ wellbeing zone.
Read more: Martin Lewis outlines 3 things tax checks you should do by April or risk losing THOUSANDS
The academy will also help Gestamp to promote the personal and professional development of employees.
Now, there are more than 70 training sessions held every month in the Academy, with more than 250 learners completing 2,500 hours of training.
And, more recently, Gestamp revealed it had invested in a full-time wellbeing lead, while the firm has trained up 25 mental health first aiders for its 1000-strong workforce.
Mr Freer, the Conservative MP for Finchley and Golders Green in London, said: “It was a pleasure to visit Gestamp to see for myself the success story the company is.
“Being able to discuss in person any exporting issues the company faces was particularly useful.
“I will be doing what I can to help the company continue to thrive.”
Gestamp Aycliffe plant director, Jonathan Phillips, added: “It’s important for us as a plant to get our message to the government that we're a very large employer in the local community with more than a thousand people here and we need to secure the future of the plant.
“The automotive industry is changing. We’re seeing lots of changes in technology and processes, and we have battery technology which is being invested in by the government here in the North-East.
“We’re ready to invest but we need to know the government is ready to support our investment.
“This investment in our staff and their wellbeing shows our commitment to our workforce, as well as our vision to being the local employer of choice.”
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.
For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here