Teesside online digital business celebrates deal with Checkatrade

Espresso Web and Checkatrade will join forces to increase their tailormade offerings to a combined consumer database of almost 30,000 tradespeople.

Stephen Robinson, Espresso Web founder and sales director, said the partnership will create a number of sales positions at its head office in Middlesbrough, paving the way for additional back office and service provision roles in the future.

He said: “Partnering with such a trusted force is a great confidence boost for us and shows we are well on our way to becoming a similar trusted force.”

Mr Robinson launched the company as a web design agency from his home in Sedgefield in 2012. He then opened offices in Skippers Lane later moving to Brighouse Business Village on Riverside Park where 32 staff are already employed.

The company, which also has an office in Newcastle and will shortly open another in Darlington, now offers a full range of Search Engine Optimisation services, web design, e-commerce website development and social media marketing.

Its deal with Checkatrade will give tens of thousands of tradesmen nationwide the opportunity to benefit from tailormade, discounted digital marketing packages bespoke to Espresso Web. Users will also benefit from listings on Espresso Web’s business directory Bizify.

The partnership will also see the Middlesbrough firm launch a new late-night business model, extending its business hours from 8am until 8pm, three days a week, in order to cater for trade clients who need to access digital marketing services after standard working hours.

Anthony Way, head of partnerships at Checkatrade, said the company was “delighted” to announce the partnership.

“We vet every potential partner and only work with those who will represent the Checkatrade brand and the values in which it operates; something both Espresso Web and Bizify have demonstrated,” he said.

Earlier this year, Espresso Web won the Apprenticeship Award at the Teesside Business Awards.