FOR a construction group the size of The Esh Group, closing its headquarters in Esh Winning could tear the heart out of the village.

The group employs about 530 people in and around Esh Winning, taking on more than 20 apprentices a year, most of whom go on to work for the business.

But now it is investing more than £2.5m in a self-designed and built headquarters in Bowburn, consolidating the group's companies on one nine-acre site.

The move, set to take place in May, could lead to hardship for some workers, many who live in the Esh Winning and surrounding area.

Chief executive Brian Manning said: "There is concern that the move will have a detrimental effect on the village of Esh Winning.

"The group, together with the two local district councils and county council, is working to mitigate that effect.

"We are currently discussing a subsidized bus link between Durham and Bowburn, as well as car sharing schemes among our employees."

He added: "We are also looking to develop an innovative partnership with Deerness Valley Comprehensive School in Esh Winning, providing students with the opportunity to develop transferable employability skills.

"That will guarantee 20 new job opportunities with training contracts each year for the next three years at least, within the Esh Group itself."

The group will give up about three acres of offices and building yards, dotted around Esh Winning and the surrounding County Dur-ham area, in favour of a nine-acre site in Bowburn.

The group will also change its name to The Esh Partnership.

The site will have space for expansion, vital if the group continues at its current pace of development. It has grown from a turnover of £40m in 2000, to £51m last year.

Mr Manning said: "We have been looking for a new home for the past two years, and originally looked to expand in Esh Winning.

"But there just isn't the land available to us.

"Esh Winning has been good to us, and despite moving out, we intend to maintain our links with the village. What's more, our move will free up our existing sites for other companies to move in and create, hopefully, more diverse employment opportunities."

The Esh Group was formed in 1999 following the merger of a number of companies in and around Esh Winning.

The catalyst for the move was the recruitment of a new management team, led by the current chief executive in 1990, to run Lumsden & Carroll Construction, which at the time had a turnover of £3m.

Deerness Fencing, also based in Esh Winning, became the first partner, and together the two companies formed Dunelm Castle Homes in 1995.

A formal partnering arrangement was entered into in 1999, and a holding company was established.

The next addition to the group was landscaping company Sones, based at Littleburn, near Meadowfield, which at the time was in receivership.

The Esh Group negotiated with the receivers, saving the jobs at the business and salvaging some of its existing contracts, which include work for Wear Valley District Council.

The business has since gone from strength to strength, being responsible for installing the elegant water feature at the Seaham Hall Hotel.

In 2002, the firm won three major awards, including the Britain in Bloom commercial award, the Sunderland in Bloom civic award for Doxford International Business Park, and Sunderland civic award for work with Sunderland University.

Electrical contractors Bartrams joined the group shortly after Sones, providing the opportunity to develop building services expertise within the group.

The Esh Group has since continued to grow organically and by acquisition.

Street lighting and electrical contractors Robson Walker joined in 2001, merging with its existing Bartrams business last year.

Dunelm Property Services was formed in the summer of 2002 to build and maintain property in the social housing sector, and to date has secured contracts worth in excess of £3m.

A specialist training division, North-East Construction Training, has been established within the group, in direct response to demands being placed on the construction industry for additional safety training and formal qualifications.

It trains staff from existing Esh Group companies as well as other firms working in the construction industry.

As well as its construction interests, The Esh Group is the majority shareholder in the Tursdale Business Park and Philadelphia Estates, based in Houghton-le-Spring, and actively encourages and supports tenant companies in establishing themselves and developing their businesses within the region.