Two major contract wins are helping transform businesses in the North East.

On Tyneside, Independent technology consultancy Opencast is to support the Department for Work and Pensions as part of a major contract worth up to £32million over the next two years, and on Teesside, PD Ports has secured a new ten-year contract with global chemical company Venator.

Tech experts Opencast will support DWP Digital with teams working across product, delivery, analysis and accessibility. It builds on Opencast’s growing relationship with one of the government’s largest departments.

Opencast Chief Growth Officer Harry Armstrong said: “We are delighted to have been chosen by DWP in this contract win. It is among the largest single contracts secured by Opencast to date, and offers us a huge opportunity to deliver more human-focused solutions at scale in critical public services.

“We already have wide experience in delivering large-scale projects that have a positive impact on citizens – and are excited at the prospect of more support for DWP in helping it to deliver easy-to-use, digitally accessible public services.”

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The PD Ports success extends a 20-year working relationship between the two companies at Port of Hartlepool and secures 24 jobs, with PD Ports providing dedicated logistics and warehousing operations for Venator’s Greatham facility, from raw material to finished product.

Venator, which is headquarted in Wynyard, is a leading manufacturer of titanium dioxide pigments and performance additives which are added to many household items and products worldwide, including paints, plastics, clothing and cars.

Lee Sanderson, PD Ports contract manager for Venator, said: “We work closely with Venator to understand their needs and to refine our own operations, investing where necessary to make improvements.”

Trevor Cairns, senior manager for Supply Chain Logistics & Procurement at Venator, said: “This is a significant milestone. During this partnership, we have collaboratively achieved continuous operating improvements initially starting at the PD Billingham Warehouse then moving to Stephens House, Hartlepool facility, and the new contract agreement transferring all operations to the newly refurbished Hartlepool Dock B Shed from December.”