A DARLINGTON-based plastics recycling firm has had a major boost after securing a grant from Tees Valley Business, one of around 3,650 companies supported by the service in 2021.

Established in January 2020 by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and the Combined Authority, Tees Valley Business provides easy to access advice, support, grants and loans to help businesses in the region grow.

One company to benefit was North Yorkshire Polymer Compounds (NYPC), which has secured more than £38,000 through the Tees Valley Business Growth Fund to support its expansion, which will lead to the creation of ten new jobs.

It is one of 215 companies to be awarded funding from the service in 2021, totalling more than £4.6million, through the Business Growth Fund, which will lead to the creation of more than 500 good-quality jobs across the region.

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The firm converts PVC plastic materials into commercially viable products using environmentally friendly recycling and manufacturing methods from its bespoke recycling and production facility in Darlington.

The team also supplies a range of PVC compounds that are used in production processes across a variety of sectors, from building and construction to automotive and medical.

As customers are now requiring increasingly large quantities of recycled products, the business saw a major opportunity for growth over the next 12 months, with new machinery needed to double the amount of recycled plastic produced each month from 500 tonnes to 1,000 tonnes.

The business’s new site also required a full electrical upgrade to install the new machinery, along with the installation of a second ‘pulverising’ phase to the plant, which turns materials into plastic pellets for remoulding into new products. Roles including machine operators, office and sales staff have been created thanks to the growth.

Shaun Hering, NYPC, said: “Our future plans include over £1million investment to automate the production process, which will enable a faster and larger output.

“We have been extremely lucky to secure the services of the Tees Valley Business funding, which will be of great benefit to our operations, allowing to expand at a much quicker rate, not only by investing in new technology, but also allowing us to upgrade some existing machinery we currently have on site.

“The scope of investment would not have been possible without the backing of Tees Valley Business and its support. The team have worked in partnership with us and have played a crucial role in supporting us throughout the process.”

Tees Valley Business has also helped 151 firms secure a total of 774 new roles via Government’s Kickstart scheme, with a further 21 submitted to the Department of Work and Pensions and 385 young people in-post. The scheme is helping to fund high-quality six-month work placements for those aged 16 to 24 who are on Universal Credit and are deemed to be at risk of long-term unemployment.

Mr Houchen said: “This has been a second fantastic year for Tees Valley Business as it continues to go from strength to strength and provides easy, hassle-free access to the funding and support our firms are crying out for.

“As demonstrated by NYPC, it’s helped hundreds of employers create good-quality, well-paid jobs for people across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool as well as drive even more cash into the region’s economy and secure millions in private-sector funding.

“It’s not all about cash, though. Tees Valley Business provides invaluable support and advice so our brilliant businesses can understand how they can grab opportunities in other ways, such as by diversifying, networking and innovating so they thrive.

“I’d call on anyone looking to transform their business to get in touch and see what they can offer you.”

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