Finley Structures is investing in the future with the appointment of two new graduates.

The steel firm has appointed Natalie Chewter as assistant quantity surveyor, and Tom Radcliffe as a graduate structural engineer.

Natalie, 22, from Spennymoor, graduated from Northumbria University with a degree in Geography before going on to take a two-year distance learning Masters in quantity surveying while working with Finley Structures.

Working under the firm’s commercial manager Diane Ruston, the former Tudhoe Grange School and Durham Sixth Form College student has already been working on exciting new structures, including a University Technical College in Scarborough and the Sir Isaac Newton building at the University of Lincoln.

“I’m really enjoying the variety of tasks that I do within the role, and I’ve recently began working on some of my own projects which is exciting,” said Natalie.

“I’ve always wanted to work within the built environment, it was just a case of fine-tuning what I wanted to do.”

Tom is a former Longfield School student from Darlington and graduated from Teesside University in 2014 with a degree in civil engineering, after studying A-level Maths, Physics and Biology at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington.

Working under senior structural engineer Steve Sandford, Tom has already worked on a number of projects including the Sarah Swift building at the University of Lincoln, a Skyline project at Heathrow Airport and Abbotsfield School in Hillingdon, London.

The 22-year-old, who plans to take his Masters in civil and structural engineering, said: “I’ve always enjoyed Maths and sciences so I have wanted to be an engineer from quite an early age. It’s something I have always found interesting.

“I saw some of the work Finley Structures had done, some of the high-profile jobs like Hitachi Rail Europe and Redcar Pier – landmark, iconic buildings – so I saw it as an exciting place to work.”

Finley Structures joint managing director Julie Raistrick added: “We’re delighted with both appointments and pleased to see them settling in to their new roles quickly.

“It’s important that we look to bring young people into the construction industry.

“There’s a skills set which will weaken in the years ahead and it’s important that we try to bring the younger generation through.”

Finley Structures is helping York University to redevelop its biology school with a state-of-the-art new building.

Finley’s helped to complete the first phase of the new Biomedical Sciences building, which opened in December 2014.

And now the Aycliffe steel firm has been awarded a contract from Interserve Construction to fabricate 270 tonnes of steel as part of the second phase of the university’s £7.5m redevelopment.

The university’s striking new science block was officially opened by Government Chief Scientific Advisor Sir Mark Walport.

It contains teaching and IT laboratories for the Biomedical Science degree, a joint programme of the Biology Department and the Hull York Medical School.

The building also houses facilities for students in the new School of Natural Sciences, who started new courses in October 2015.

It represents the first phase of the redevelopment of the university’s Biology department.

Finley Structures has won another major contract at Japanese firm Nissan’s expanding North-East car manufacturing plant.

The family-run steel firm was awarded an 836-tonne contract from Sir Robert McAlpine to work on the new press shop at the Washington site.

It comes after Finley Structures completed the steel frame for Nissan’s new factory which is now manufacturing its new Infiniti range, as part of a 1,300-tonne contract.

This latest project for McAlpine involved constructing a 22 metre-tall press shop and panel store covering 6,300 square metres of floor area.

Finley Structures had to fabricate 38-metre clear span trusses and 1,800mm-deep plate girder crane beams as part of the complex operation.

“It’s a very difficult, challenging project, as we’re having to erect the structure around a very large excavation area,” says Finley’s operations manager Jim Graham.

“But it continues to showcase our capability as a major fabricator – and we’re delighted to be working with Sir Robert McAlpine again on what is another high-profile and important contract for the region.”

Finley had previously erected two buildings, involving a total of more than 1,300 tonnes of steel, for Nissan’s Infiniti factory – part of Nissan’s £250m investment at Sunderland.

Jim added: “We secured this latest contract from McAlpine under very strong competition, so we had to demonstrate a strong market value.

“This latest appointment demonstrates our continued focus on value for money with both McAlpine and Nissan.”

Finley Structures last year announced it saw turnover climb £3.1m to £16.4m after a string of major contract wins.

During that time, the steel fabrication firm also took on eight new employees – boosting staff numbers to 68.

Finley Structures fabricated and erected 2,000 tonnes of steel which makes up the frame for Hitachi Rail Europe’s new £82m train-assembling factory on Aycliffe Business Park.

The firm has also worked on a 2,300-tonne project at the Victoria Gate shopping centre in Leeds – a deal worth close to £4m – while it also worked on the 500-tonne Sports Village in Middlesbrough and a 300-tonne frame for the £38m National Biologics Centre in Darlington.

In addition, Finley Structures completed a 500-tonne project for Teesside University and a 620-tonne contract for the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing and Research Centre (AMRC) and several school new builds for Galliford Try.

The family firm has also won a number of other new contracts, including a 600-tonne contract for McLaughlin & Harvey at Heathrow and a 600-tonne contract for BAM Construction at Lincoln University, a 270-tonne project for Interserve at York University’s Biomed Building, a 600-tonne contract at Navigation Park in Enfield for A&H Construction and a 430-tonne job for Sir Robert McAlpine at Workington Academy in Cumbria to round-up a busy year.

Finley Structures has been recognised for a hugely-successful year in business.

The family steel firm was named Company of the Year at Aycliffe Business Park’s Make Your Mark awards ceremony, held at the Xcel Centre.

Finley Structures, which is based in the former British Steel factory on Aycliffe Business Park, beat off competition from Hitachi, Gestamp Tallent, Samwon, Baltic Training Services and Caring Caretaker to scoop the top prize at Wednesday night’s bash.

Finley Structures announced a record turnover year in 2015, with sales growing to £16.4m – up from £10m four years ago.

High-profile contracts, including Hitachi Rail Europe’s new facility, also included a new 1,400-tonne factory for Nissan at Washington, a 2,300-tonne project at the Victoria Gate shopping centre in Leeds, the 500-tonne Sports Village in Middlesbrough and a 300-tonne frame for the £38m National Biologics Centre in Darlington.

Finley Structures also completed a 500-tonne project for Teesside University and a 620-tonne contract for the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing and Research Centre (AMRC) to round-up a busy year.

The company was launched by John Finley in 2000 and was originally based at the former NCB Works in Tursdale near Bowburn with 20 staff.

It was only when, during a chance drive-by in 2002, the opportunistic John spotted the 87,000 sq ft factory, once home to British Steel, being emptied by its tenants at the time, Alexander-le-Skerne, that he stopped by to have a look.

“We were outgrowing our site at Tursdale and were looking to relocate,” says John.

“It was just by chance I drove down Whinbank Road one day and saw it being emptied, so I just went in for a look around, and I remember thinking to myself ‘I can see Finley Structures thriving in here’.

“We eventually did the deal to buy the building and moved in. We invested £250,000 in the place in 2003 so it was a lot of money for us back then, and the business started to grow.

“I initially thought we would rent part of the building out to help pay the bills but we quickly started to fill it out and before long we were looking to expand again. We then bought other adjoining buildings in 2010 and our sister company, SCH Site Services, relocated there in order to grow and is now thriving in its own right.”

Finley Structures is a truly family-run firm. John’s wife Valerie is a company director and was a part-time receptionist until retiring in December, while daughter Julie is joint-managing director and son Gary is joint-managing director of SCH Site Services.

Combined, the two companies employ 104 people, while the new family venture, ROF 59 – an activity centre which was also named Newcomer of the Year on Wednesday night – employs a further 30 staff.

After building a firm which has grown in stature and profile and created employment for local people, John says picking up both awards is a career highlight.

The 63-year-old, originally from Esh Winning who now lives in Spennymoor, added: “We’re a family firm but I’d like to thank all our staff, because we wouldn’t be where we are now without them and the brilliant work they do for us.

“It is a team effort, so we’re absolutely thrilled for all our employees to win these awards. It’s testament to many years of hard work, endeavour and determination.

“I’d also like to thank HSBC for the fantastic support they have given us over the years. Today we’re virtually debt-free, but previously we were turned down by a bank we’d been with for 10 years when we needed cash to invest in acquiring property to expand. If it wasn’t for HSBC we wouldn’t have been able to invest in the buildings and in new machinery, so we wouldn’t be where we are today.

“Winning big contracts is an achievement and getting the Hitachi project from Shepherd Construction was, of course, a highlight and major boost for the company in terms of profile, but in all my years in business these are our first awards, so I am very proud.”

The Company of the Year award, sponsored by Business Durham, was presented to the Finleys by Councillor Neil Foster, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration.

“I’m delighted for Finley Structures as a local family firm which has achieved a lot not only in the last year but over several years,” said Cllr Foster.

“It’s important that we celebrate our success stories with business awards like Make Your Mark and it’s brilliant to see Aycliffe Business Park thriving as it is. It’s really leading the way for County Durham.”

• Other Make Your Mark winners included Baltic Training (Apprenticeships), Formula Plastics (Engineering and Manufacturing), Lostbox (Innovation), Beaumont Grounds Maintenance (Service), Tekmar Energy (Export), Luke Reynolds, Gregg Little Testing Centre (Apprentice), ROF 59 (Newcomer), Workshop Supplies (Small Business), Caring Caretaker (Employer) and Newton Press (Heart of the Community).

Finley Structures has secured a contract to build the steel framework for a multiple unit development on the outskirts of London.

The Aycliffe fabrication firm has been awarded the 616-tonne project at Navigation Park in Enfield, North-East London, from West Midlands-based building and civil engineering contractors A&H Construction, on behalf of multi-national Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) SEGRO.

The development is made up of three units totalling 173,000 sq ft gross external area, including industrial units and office accommodation.

Finley Structures has almost finished construction of the steel frame.

Operations manager Jim Graham says this debut contract with A&H Construction shows how the family-run business is growing into new areas.

“This is the first time we’ve worked with both A&H Construction, as the main contractor, and SEGRO as the end user,” said Mr Graham.

“It shows that we’re not just a regional business and we have the capability of working nationally and competing with steel fabricators of all sizes.

“SEGRO is a major European buisness which targets the Southern UK corridor as a major growth area, and this project at Navigation Park is a typical signature project.

A&H Construction, based in Halesowen, just South of Birmingham, offers turnkey packages to the retail, commercial, industrial and leisure sectors.

Mr Graham added: “It’s another new client for us – we now have new targets and new areas to focus on.

“We are actively seeking out new opportunities, and being more selective about our client base and project selection.”

Finley Structures is also currently working on a 432-tonne building at Workington Academy, in Cumbria, for Sir Robert McAlpine.

Mr Graham said: “We have a long-established relationship with McAlpine, but we still secured that contract under stiff competition. It wasn’t handed to us on a plate.

“Working further afield in different areas of the country does bring new challenges, such as transportation, supervision and management.

“But we’re continually looking for efficiency gains in our processes to make us as competitive as we can be, and it’s work which is paying off in the contracts we’re winning on a regular basis.

“Our average weekly tonnage has continued growth and the business continues to grow from strength-to-strength as we explore these new markets and continue to secure major projects.”

Finley Structures last year announced it saw turnover climb £3.1m to £16.4m after a string of major contract wins, while the firm also took on eight new employees – boosting staff numbers to 68.

Finley is still currently working on a major project at the Victoria Gate shopping centre in Leeds – a deal worth close to £4m – while last year it also completed a 500-tonne project for Teesside University and a 620-tonne contract for the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing and Research Centre (AMRC), as well as several school new builds for Galliford Try.

The family firm has also won a number of other new contracts, including a 600-tonne contract for McLaughlin & Harvey at Heathrow and a 600-tonne contract for BAM Construction at Lincoln University and a 270-tonne project for Interserve at York University’s Biomed Building.

Finley Structures has been boosted by a new record year for its steel construction division.

Finley saw turnover jump to £16.4m by the end of March this year – up £3.1m on 2014.

During that time, the steel fabrication firm has also taken on eight new employees – boosting staff numbers to 68 – while working on high-profile contracts across the region.

Finley Structures fabricated and erected 2,000 tonnes of steel which makes up the frame for Hitachi Rail Europe’s new £82m train-assembling factory on Aycliffe Business Park.

Finley has also worked on a 2,300-tonne project at the Victoria Gate shopping centre in Leeds – a deal worth close to £4m.

And during the 2014-15 financial year, the Aycliffe outfit also built Nissan’s new Leaf factory, a 1,400-tonne project, the 500-tonne Sports Village in Middlesbrough and a 300-tonne frame for the £38m National Biologics Centre in Darlington, which opened recently.

In addition, Finley Structures completed a 500-tonne project for Teesside University and a 620-tonne contract for the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing and Research Centre (AMRC) to round-up a busy year.

It comes as its sister company, nearby SCH Site Services which employs 36 people, continues to perform strongly, while Finley’s also launched the ROF 59 activity centre this summer, a new leisure venue built on one of the former Royal Ordnance Factories at Aycliffe Business Park which employs another 15 full-time and 15 part-time staff.

Joint managing director Julie Finley says it’s been a hugely positive and progressive period for family firm, which was formed by her father, John, in 2000.

“The construction industry continues to have its challenges but it has been an exceptional year for the Finley group,” she said.

“Finley Structures’ financial performance for the year end March 2015 has been largely down to the two large, high-profile contracts in Hitachi for Shepherd Construction and Victoria Gate for Sir Robert McAlpine.

“During the timescale of the Hitachi contract alone we took on eight new staff – four in the office and four on the shop floor – to cope with the amount of extra work, which means we’re up to record employee levels.

“SCH continues to do very well and ROF 59 is an exciting new development for the company which has seen our combined staff numbers reach almost 130.”

Earlier this year, Finley Structures won a multi-million-pound contract to build new schools across the region with major contractor Galliford Try, a national firm which has offices across the UK including Washington, Tyne and Wear.

The contracts, which vary from 380 to 400 tonnes apiece, include Laurence Jackson School in Guisborough, Longbenton Community College in Newcastle, Duchess Secondary School in Alnwick, Bedlingtonshire Community School in Bedlington, Northumberland, and Hetton School in Hetton Le Hole.

It’s the first time Finley Structures has worked with Galliford Try, a FTSE 250 housebuilding and construction group which employs around 5,000 staff nationally.

The family firm has also won a number of other new contracts, including a 270-tonne project for Interserve at York University’s Biomed Building, a 600-tonne contract at Navigation Park in Enfield for A&H Construction and a 430-tonne job for Sir Robert McAlpine at Workington Academy in Cumbria – which are all currently on site.

“There’s a lot going on and we’re now working on more and more contracts outside of the North East region,” added Julie.

“We’re especially delighted to be working on projects with new clients as we continue to strengthen the excellent relationships we already have with all the major contractors. It certainly continues to be a hugely positive time for the company.”

Founded by John Finley in 2000, Finley Structures has three sites on Aycliffe Business Park – its head office and main factory on Whinbank Road, its SCH site on Beaumont Way and its new ROF 59 site on Durham Way South.

Finley Structures has been awarded a multi-million pound deal to help construct a £650m shopping development in Leeds.

The family construction firm, which has recently completed steelwork on Hitachi Rail Europe’s train-building site for Shepherd Construction, was handed a 2,300-tonne job to construct a major part of Victoria Gate, in Leeds city centre.

Victoria Gate is an exciting addition to the vibrant shopping scene in Leeds, which will include the Victoria Gate arcade, currently being constructed by Finley Structures.

It will include stores, restaurants, cafes and leisure space in an elegantly designed two-street arcade linking Victoria Quarter to the John Lewis store.

The development is expected to deliver up to 1,000 retail and hospitality jobs and 1,000 construction employment opportunities.

Finley Structures was awarded a 20-week contract from Sir Robert McAlpine’s Manchester office, to fabricate and erect 2,300 tonnes of steel, after being recommended for the job by the firm’s Newcastle office following the successful completion of Nissan’s new car plant in Washington.

The work is being done on behalf of national retail developer Hammerson Property, which boasts a real estate portfolio of around £7.7billion, with investments in 22 major shopping centres and 22 retail parks, providing a total of 1.7million sq m of retail space.

Finley Structures operations manager Jim Graham said: “This is a very prestigious contract for us and we’re delighted to be doing this work for Sir Robert McAlpine on behalf of Hammerson.

“Retail is fairly new to us, but is an area we’ve been looking to explore for some time now, and to get on to Hammerson’s supply chain is a major coup for the company.

“It’s a very high maintenance job. In retail there tends to be a lot of alterations and you have to react very quickly to change, which we’ve been doing very well to date and we’re currently on programme.

“It’s another indication of how far Finley Structures has come in the last three-to-four years, with large-scale projects like this now becoming run-of-the-mill stuff to us.”

McAlpine has praised Finley Structures for its “exceptional” safety performance on the Victoria Gate contract.

The firm’s North West regional manager Simon Trevor said: “Not only are Finley Structures the only company to have scored a KPI for Health and Safety and over 80% during the month of February, but they are the first and only to have achieved this in our region within the last 12 months.

“Our supply chain represents 80% of our business, therefore it is the collective effort which counts on trying o change cultures to effect positive outcomes, so I congratulate Finley Structures on their exceptional safety performance.”

The Victoria Gate contract comes after Finley Structures, founded by John Finley in 2000, was given a 2,000-tonne contract to fabricate and erect the steel frame for Hitachi’s factory on Aycliffe Business Park last year.

During a busy 2014, the family firm, which employs 60 full-time staff, also completed a 1,400-tonne project for Nissan, constructing the steel frame for the Japanese car manufacturer’s new facility in Washington, as well as a 300-tonne contract for the National Biologics Centre in Darlington for contractors Interserve.

In addition, Finley Structures worked on Middlesbrough Council’s state-of-the-art Sports Village, erecting 500 tonnes of steel for main contractor Willmott Dixon, while also completing a 500-tonne contract for Bam Construction at Teesside University as well as two 280-tonne projects for the Poniel Warehouses in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, for Muir Construction.

Finley Structures started on site at Leeds in February and expect to complete the structural steelwork in June.

Victoria Gate, formerly known as Eastgate Quarters and the Harewood and Eastgate Quarters, is a £650m development which is planned to open in late 2016.

Finley Structures has won a multi-million-pound contract to build new schools across the region.

The family-run company has secured the deal with major contractor Galliford Try, a national firm which has offices across the UK including Washington, Tyne and Wear.

Finley has been contracted to supply, deliver and erect steel for five comprehensive schools in the North East, varying from 380 to 400 tonnes apiece.

The include Lawrence Jackson School in Guisborough, Longbenton Community College in Newcastle, Duchess Secondary School in Alnwick, Bedlingtonshire Community School in Bedlington, Northumberland, and Hetton School in Hetton Le Hole.

Finley Operations Manager Jim Graham said: “This is the first time we’ve worked with Galliford Try and we’re delighted.

“Galliford is known to have a very tight supply chain in the industry, so this deal represents a fantastic opportunity for us.

“We need to perform and be user-friendly, but we’re confident we’ll impress as we do with all our contracts.”

Galliford Try is a FTSE 250 housebuilding and construction group delivering industry-leading performance in the constructing sector.

The group employs around 5,000 staff and benefits from a strong client base and integrated supply chain, spanning both industries in which it operates.

This latest deal for Finley Structures after it was awarded a 2,600-tonne job to construct a major part of Victoria Gate, in Leeds city centre, earlier this year.

Finley Structures was awarded a 20-week contract from Sir Robert McAlpine’s Manchester office, to fabricate and erect 2,300 tonnes of steel, after being recommended for the job by the firm’s Newcastle office following the successful completion of Nissan’s new car plant in Washington.

The steel firm has also completed a 620-tonne contract for Interserve at the AMRC Factory in Sheffield and is also currently working on a 140-tonne warehouse contract for neighbouring Stiller Warehousing and Distribution in Newton Aycliffe.

Other contracts include a 170-tonne job for Britcon at the AMP Technology Centre in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, and another school contract for Bowmer and Kirkland at Allestree in Derby.

A team of councillors were wowed by plans to create a permanent memorial to the Aycliffe Angels at one of the Royal Ordnance Factories on Aycliffe Business Park.

Six of Newton Aycliffe’s Durham County Councillors – Jed Hillary, John Clare, Kate Hopper, Eddy Adam, Joan Gray and Mike Dixon – visited the former Presswork Metals factory, which is being turned into a mixed-use leisure facility by local family construction firm Finley Structures.

The company’s Managing Director Julie Finley showed them ambitious plans to preserve the heritage and memory of the Aycliffe Angels, who worked at the ROF during World War II.

As we approach the 70th anniversary of the end of hostilities, Finley Structures has revealed it wants to name the complex ROF 59, standing for Royal Ordnance Factory 59 – the original name of the group of Aycliffe factories built in the early 1940s which created the New Town of Aycliffe.

The huge munitions factory employed some 17,000 workers, mostly women, between 1941 and 1945 and was an extremely important part of the country’s war effort.

The work was highly dangerous as the women filled bullets and bombs for the boys in the battlefield. There were a number of serious and fatal explosions, with eight women being killed in one blast.

Much of the original brickwork as well as some of the 1960s Presswork Metals building has been preserved, with the 21st Century steelwork creating a palimpsest effect of building through the ages.

Staff working at the new ROF 59 will wear overalls, like the Aycliffe Angels did when they risked their lives working there 70 years ago, while several other features will enable Aycliffe’s proud history of the munitions-making factories to live on.

Part of an old railway line, used to transport the munitions to the main railway line which was uncovered during foundation works, will be incorporated into other memorabilia features and archive photographs from back in the day.

Cllr Hillary revealed how his parents – Bob and Millie Hillary – met in Aycliffe after working there during hostilities.

“It’s really quite amazing,” he said. “My mother and father actually met in School Aycliffe during the war, my father was stationed here with the Army guarding the place and my Mum worked here in the Ordnance Factory.

“So I’ve always known about the ROF and the Aycliffe Angels, and to see – after such a long time – some kind of honorary tribute to them is a really positive step forward for Newton Aycliffe.

“Although it’s a new town, it has got a lot of history. We’re steeped in history. But this area, where the Royal Ordnance Factory was, is a really important place in the history of the country. It provided munitions during the whole of the Second World War and kept the troops fighting across the world, so to actually commemorate this is really important, and would be part of my family heritage.

“I don’t think people realise just how big a footprint the Royal Ordnance Factory had. There are still bunkers at the other end of where Hitachi is now, and some of the old munitions factories stretch down to St Cuthbert’s Way.

“The current industrial park was set up to occupy buildings when the ROF ceased to exist, which shows you just how vast it was.”

Cllr Clare, well known in Aycliffe as a former History teacher at Greenfield School, said: “Because I’m an historian I’m intrinsically excited about this.

“Just looking at the building you can see history growing before your very eyes, beginning with the roofline of the Royal Ordnance Factory walls. Above that you have a brick wall from the 50s or 60s and above that you have the 21st Century steelwork – is that not exciting?

“You’ve got the developing uses happening at the same time… it started off making bombs to protect Britain during the war, followed by your post-war new town aims and the Presswork Metals factory and now we’re turning it into a leisure factory.

“The scheme aims to integrate that history into the modern leisure function of the project. The history is going to be all around you and integrated into the project as you walk around, so you will be learning as you’re playing, which is just fantastic.

“Projects like this are integral to the success of Aycliffe Business Park, so it’s important as well as exciting.”

Almost £600,000 has been spent on constructing a new 70,000 square foot facility on the site, which has stood empty for more than six years.

A further £300,000 is to be invested in the fit out of the facility, including a trampoline park, cafe, restaurant and bar, and it will also include one of the biggest climbing walls in the country, standing at 20 metres tall, while Rock Antics are moving from the town centre to be incorporated into the project.

A former World War II munitions factory will become a permanent memorial to the Aycliffe Angels as part of an exciting development which will create up to 20 new jobs.

Newton Aycliffe construction firm Finley Structures acquired the old Presswork Metals factory on Aycliffe Business Park more than two years ago.

Almost £600,000 has been spent on constructing a new 70,000 square foot facility on the site, which has stood empty for more than six years.

A further £300,000 is to be invested in the fit out of the facility, including a trampoline park, cafe, restaurant and bar, and the facility will also include one of the biggest climbing walls in the country, standing at 20 metres tall, while Rockantics are moving from the town centre to be incorporated into the project.

Now, as we approach the 70th anniversary of the end of hostilities, Finley Structures has revealed exciting plans which will help to preserve the building’s war-time history.

The family firm wants to name the complex ROF 59, standing for Royal Ordnance Factory 59 – the original name of the group of Aycliffe factories built in the 1940s.

The huge munitions factory employed some 17,000 workers, mostly women, between 1941 and 1945 and was an extremely important part of the country’s war effort.

The work was highly dangerous as the women filled bullets and bombs for the boys in the battlefield. There were a number of serious and fatal explosions, with eight women being killed in one blast.

Staff working at ROF 59 will wear overalls, like the Aycliffe Angels did when they risked their lives working there 70 years ago, while several other features will enable Aycliffe’s proud history of the munitions-making factories to live on.

Part of an old railway line, used to transport the munitions to the main railway line which was uncovered during foundation works, will be incorporated into other memorabilia features including a model spitfire and archive photographs from back in the day.

Managing Director Julie Finley said: “We recognise the important historical significance of the factory and the Aycliffe Angels who used to work there, so we have deliberately retained much of the original brickwork and signage within the building.

“The plan is to create a permanent memorial, and help us to keep educating young people about this important piece of British history.

“Aycliffe Business Park probably wouldn’t exist today without the Royal Ordnance Factories, and we feel it’s important to preserve that heritage for many years to come.”

Consultant Kim Fryer (pictured, above, with Julie), of Newton Aycliffe-based KF Restaurant and Hospitality, has already been appointed by Finley Structures to manage the restaurant development, and the company is looking to recruit a bar manager, bar assistants, chefs, receptionists, cleaners and other members of staff in the coming weeks.

With over 20 years experience within the hospitality industry, Ms Fryer has a passion for quality food and service, having headed up the events team at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery for a number of years before relocating from the Midlands to the North East to manage Auckland Castle.

“This is a fantastic project to work on and I’m delighted to be involved,” she said.

“It’s important that we keep our heritage alive and educate our young people to appreciate and understand what the previous generation did for this country.

“But it will also be an attraction to both families from all over the region looking for a good day out as well as local businesspeople looking to entertain guests.

“We’ll be using locally-sourced, fresh produce and we’ll have some quirky food and drinks menus to cater for everyone.”

Anyone who’d like more information about the jobs at ROF 59 can email p.hadwin@finleystructures.co.uk