An award-winning engineering company has started work to expanding its headquarters after receiving a grant from a fund backing business growth in the rural North East.
Osbit, which is based in Riding Mill, Northumberland, is building a single-storey extension to its offices at Broomhaugh House and has received funding from the North East Rural Growth Network’s Rural Business Growth Fund.
The extension will create space for 50 staff, with 12 new jobs created at Osbit as part of the programme.
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The building project, which is due for completion next year, is being undertaken with support of a grant of £151,000 from Rural Business Growth Fund.
Tony Trapp, executive chairman at Osbit, said: “The continued growth of our business in the oil and gas and offshore renewables markets, combined with our desire to attract and retain talented engineers, has created the need to expand our premises.
“The new space will create much needed additional capacity to support our expansion plans and project-centric working approach.
“Osbit is a unique place to work and our existing office is an important part of our company’s culture. I am delighted we are able to expand our premises and remain in this outstanding setting, with support from the North East Rural Growth Network.
“We are very proud to be headquartered, operated and owned in Northumberland and to continue the North East of England’s legacy as a globally recognised hub for engineering excellence.”
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The North East Rural Growth Network was formed as part of a pilot national programme to stimulate economic growth in rural businesses and communities.
Its business growth fund offers support to project that will accelerate business growth and stimulate employment in rural communities in Northumberland, County Durham and Gateshead.
Rural Growth Network Manager Katy McIntosh said: “Investment in this project means that Osbit has the opportunity to remain at its current location by delivering the good quality accommodation that its market-driven expansion demands.
“The new space will give the team flexibility to accelerate growth, stimulating further job creation with 12 new jobs for local people, helping to ensure that our rural economy remains a great place to invest, work and grow.”
Broomhaugh House has a strong heritage in North East England’s engineering history, having once been the family house of the Swan family, co-founders of shipbuilders Swan Hunter.
The new extension is to be situated behind the Victorian building and will be connected via a corridor. To suit the office’s rural Tyne Valley setting, the building will feature timber cladding and slate roofing. A new courtyard will also be added, along with increased car parking spaces for staff.
Colin Bell, business growth director at the North East LEP, said: “The North East Rural Growth Network funds are designed to offer support in exactly this type of situation, allowing a company to grow and create more jobs.
“The offshore sector is strategically important for the North East LEP area and will play an important role in helping to deliver the objectives in the Strategic Economic Plan which aims to create 100,000 more and better jobs by 2024. We’re looking forward to seeing Osbit flourish in its newly extended premises.”