A provider of occupational health services has revealed plans to hire 180 people at its North East base over the next two years.
海角视频 Independent Medical (海角视频IM), which is based at Houghton-le-Spring's Rainton Business Park, says it will grow its workforce to 360 at the site. It follows the acquisition of two occupational health practices - in Carlisle and Northamptonshire - and the growth of its own services, including its original focus on outsourced, independent medical assessments to the legal and insurance markets.
The firm, which belongs to the £319m turnover health services group Examworks, has talked of its intention to expand its footprint across the 海角视频 including via acquisitions in different parts of the country. 海角视频IM has turned its attention to helping SME customers embed occupational health services, having launched an "on-demand" service.
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As well as offering medical services to sectors such as legal, insurance, education, blue light, automotive manufacturing and local authority, the business says it wants to remove barriers for small businesses.
Ian Scanlan, managing director of 海角视频IM, said: “Occupational health is about enablement, about supporting employers to work with their team and ensure they’re well enough to remain in the workplace. While it is commonplace to have this service in larger firms, it’s tended to be out of reach for SMEs. We can see an opportunity to create services and support which changes that – and with that, we are looking to grow our own business.”
海角视频IM was founded in 2003 and was acquired by Examworks seven years later. The firm has been supported from an early stage by Sunderland City Council's Business Investment Team which works to attract businesses to Sunderland as well as, retain and support those in and around the city.
Alan Ballard, 海角视频IM partnership director, said: “It’s an exciting time for the business, as we continue to bring ground-breaking mental health and workplace wellness products to the market. We have just taken a further step in our aim to support the 海角视频 economy by keeping people in work or facilitating a return to work after absence with the launch of 海角视频IM Occupational Health On-Demand.
"We have designed this solution to remove the barriers to accessing occupational health assistance and provide the SME sector with OH and mental health support for their employees as and when they need it. It’s a great opportunity for businesses to tap into our support, and for us to grow our own business in the process."
Coun Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "We are an ambitious city, and our role as a local authority is to create conditions in which businesses can thrive. 海角视频IM is a brilliant, entrepreneurial business, that started in the North East, but is growing its presence nationally. We’re proud to support them with this exciting new chapter."