Filtronic has received a grant of £150,000 to contribute towards its expansion project which will accelerate growth and increase its workforce.
The firm, which operates from NETPark in Sedgefield, was awarded the capital grant from the County Durham Growth Fund and is using the money to help bolster the company’s manufacturing and testing facilities as well as create up to 36 new jobs.
Filtronic, which designs and manufactures advanced RF products and solutions for critical communications markets, has invested £1m in its expansion project. The investment, supported by the County Durham Growth Fund, will allow the company to increase its capacity significantly and win contracts with other customers, leading to accelerated growth.
Filtronic Chief Financial Officer, Michael Tyerman, said: “The way we communicate is changing dramatically and with the increased growth in traffic expected from 5G, network capacity has to be improved. In order to address this challenge, we have invested significant R&D activity in developing a number of E-band products which can deliver high performance at a competitive cost, which have understandably attracted interest from a number of potential new customers.”
“Now, thanks to our own capital investment and the fantastic support we’ve had from the County Durham Growth Fund, we have been able to expand our manufacturing and testing facilities, allowing us to produce in larger quantities which will enable us to win work with other companies, accelerating our plans for growth.”
The County Durham Growth Fund, overseen by Business Durham, the economic development arm of Durham County Council, is a £8.9m investment scheme providing funding to small and medium sized businesses in County Durham to accelerate their growth.
Sarah Slaven, Interim Managing Director of Business Durham, said: “The support we have given to Filtronic has not only led to the creation of new jobs and significant expansion at the company’s NETPark facility, but also demonstrates the diversity of the fund to support companies across a broad range of sectors in our area.”
Cllr. Carl Marshall, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “We are pleased to be able to support Filtronic in expanding its enterprises, allowing it to accelerate its plans for growth, keep business in County Durham, and create new jobs for the region’s people. This investment also supports our long-term ambition as a council, which is to preserve a thriving environment for businesses to grow while creating and safeguarding more and better jobs.”
The fund is being delivered in partnership with UMi, which has a dedicated team of advisors ready to help with initial eligibility checks and funding applications. All successful grants applications are appraised by UNW LLP, an independent firm of chartered accountants and business advisers. The funding has been secured from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.
Simon Allen, Investment Centre Director at UMi, said: “Filtronic is a fast-growing, hugely ambitious company which, thanks to the investment committed by the County Durham Growth Fund, has been able to roll out expansion plans which will cement its continued growth in County Durham for many years to come.”
John Healey, Corporate Finance Partner at UNW LLP, said: “It is encouraging to see an innovative technology company be supported by the County Durham Growth Fund to create new jobs and increase its capacity.”
