A technology solutions company specialising in business communications, data cabling, fibre optics and training is to double its workforce following a move to north Staffordshire.
Total Network Solutions Europe Ltd has moved from Crewe to bigger, newer premises in Newcastle-under-Lyme, with help from the Make it Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Inward Investment Service.
The relocation to the Brockway enterprise centre, which is managed by Newcastle Borough Council, will enable the four-year-old company to meet growing demand for its products and training, and create four new jobs.
TNS Europe worked with the inward investment service for seven months to find and secure its new home.
Director, Paul Forster, said: “We were keen to find modern, cost-effective premises with more office, classroom and storage space. The new location gives us all of that. It’s also close to the M6 and several hotels, which is great for clients who have to travel to us or who are taking one of our residential courses.
“The help we got from the inward investment service was excellent. They clearly understood what we were looking for, worked hard to help us find and view potential sites, and facilitated our very positive contact with Newcastle Borough Council.”
Paul who lives in Crewe, founded the firm in 2008 when he left the Armed Forces where he was a communications specialist.
All of his current staff are former members of the armed forces. Many of Paul’s clients are from the SME arena and include
the MOD service personnel on resettlement training.
Recruitment to four new posts, in telecoms engineering and business administration, will be organised through JET Business
- again, made possible by the inward investment service.
Councillor Mark Meredith, whose Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet responsibilities include economic development and inward investment, said: “It’s great news that TNS Europe has made the move to north Staffordshire, and it is another success story for the inward investment team.
“Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire offer a wealth of benefits to companies who want to open or expand their business
here. Our land and premises are competitively priced, we’re centrally located with great transport links, and our workforce
boasts a wide range of skills.”
Councillor Eddie Boden, portfolio holder with responsibility for planning, regeneration and town centres at Newcastle Borough
Council said, “We are really pleased that TNS Europe have decided to come to Newcastle to do business. The council is
keen to attract new business to the area wherever we can.”
“Working in partnership with our colleagues at the inward investment service has added real value in encouraging businesses to relocate here, particularly in this case to premises that the Council has built to meet market needs. We hope that we will have more successes like this one.”
The Make It Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Inward Investment Service is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. It provides free and confidential support to companies relocating or looking to grow their business. Its services include:
• providing information to help companies choose the optimum location
• identifying suitable sites and premises
• advice on available finance and incentives
• support in recruitment, skills and training
• help with logistics, such as site visits and area tours
• assistance with industry and market research.
More details about the service are available by calling 0300 111 8005.
Ends
Issued by Ciara Hill in the communications department at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, tel: 01782 232130.