A COMPANY is investing £500,000 in refurbishing its headquarters and says it wants to improve facilities for staff to make them feel valued.

Tees Components has secured permission to expand its headquarters in North Skelton, near Saltburn.

The company, which had embarked on a programme of equipment and technology investments to support the delivery of specialist heavy machining contracts, is now focusing on the next stage of its developments – providing new wellbeing facilities for its staff.

It has secured planning permission from Redcar and Cleveland Council to build a 400 square metre extension, which will contain washrooms, a canteen, welfare facilities and office space.

Located to the rear of the site’s machine shop, the project will involve the demolition of a former mine brick workshop, which will make way for the extension.

Designed by Stokesley-based SPA Architects, the extension feature one-way routes and high levels of ventilation to enable it to remain in safe use in the event of events such as Covid-19.

Alongside the extension will be new landscaping and an outdoor seating area for staff to use during breaks.

The company is also taking advantage of its nearby countryside to build a pathway through the fields to provide a route where staff can walk.

Managing director Sharon Lane said: “We have learned a lot from the past year, not only in terms of our agility to remain operational during the pandemic, but also to ensure that the workplace wellbeing of our people is as important as their workplace safety.

“The new extension and the new pathway are at the heart of this approach and will transform an underused part of our site into really nice spaces to be able sit outside of work times, relax and enjoy our beautiful surroundings. It’s so important to invest in our people and their wellbeing and make them feel that we really value their skills and experience, and we want to provide them with some great facilities that reflect how much they are appreciated.”

Further developments include the first phase of the refurbishment of its engineering stores and works entrance, as the company tries to meet a growing order book, and recruitment for more engineering-based roles.

In the last year it has continued to supply to long-standing clients in power generation, defence and rail, implementing stringent health and hygiene measures to remain operational, which has also led to securing new work from sectors including renewable energy, aerospace and robotics.

This has led to the need for additional operators and machine shop staff with plans to take on its next intake of apprentices in the autumn.

Ms Lane said: “These developments also support our growth plans, which are being driven by our increased order book and the need to add to our workforce.

"We are now fully operational following the series of pandemic lockdowns and are seeing an increase in orders, which is enabling us to recruit more people. We hope that the new facilities we’re providing, along with the interesting projects we are securing will be attractive to potential new colleagues.”