Training company bags contract after debut at EMCON

A specialist commercial training company for industry, which exhibited at EMCON for the very first time this year, has won another contract that was secured on the day of the event.

NCG Solutions was one of 18 companies from across County Durham who exhibited within the Incubator Zone at EMCON 2018.

The Crook-based engineering and manufacturing training company made lots of leads on the day, one of which was with ITEC North East, based in Newton Aycliffe.

Apprenticeship provider ITEC was among hundreds of businesses from around the region who either exhibited or visited this year’s EMCON and approached NCG’s Managing Director about working together.

Ian said: “ITEC’s business team came over to our Incubator Zone stand and were very interested in certain aspects of the training we deliver.

“While we were still exhibiting I received a call from someone within the training team at ITEC, to book training in for mid-November. This initial course was for eight people, but I have also met with the MD Tracy Wilson about further collaborations.

“This is fantastic for us and really does show that the Incubator Zone and EMCON are the ideal place to win new business. We had a fantastic experience which also allowed us to showcase our expertise in PLC programming, training and automation services and hopefully this contract is one of many we win as a result of exhibiting.”

The Incubator Zone programme, which is ERDF funded and delivered by Business Durham’s Durham Business Opportunities Programme (DBOP) and LEC Communications and Design, was launched last year to encourage those businesses who wouldn’t or couldn’t exhibit at EMCON, either because of lack of experience, resources or budget, to get involved.

This year, the exhibitors were Ashgarth Engineering, Body Engineering, Stella Coatings, Durham Scenic Workshops, Accurate Systems Labelling, Newton Aycliffe Workwear Supplies, IA Growth, Beacon 365, System EightyEight, GEM Training, ActionCOACH, Climate Action North East, Johnson Procurement Solutions, Millbank Solutions, One Unite Partnership, Pixel Media and Greystone Legal, as well as NCG Solutions.

Ben Gilhespy, Operations Director at CDEMN, which delivers EMCON, said: “I spoke with Ian from NCG Solutions on the day and he said he was confident of delivering some training for ITEC, and we’re delighted to hear that has now come off.

“We know our event is a proven platform to companies winning work, and this news from NCG is one of many positive reports we’re expecting to hear about over the coming weeks and months.”

Michael Harriott, Business Engagement Officer for the DBOP team, said: “It’s great to hear that already one of the Incubator Zone exhibitors has won work. And from speaking to many of the other companies involved, it’s likely this will be the first of many contract wins that come as a result of this year’s programme.”

Hundreds of people attended this year’s event, with over 100 companies exhibiting and several themed sessions held throughout the day. Stadler Rail UK was the event’s inaugural headline sponsor with Business Durham and RM Manufacturing the gold sponsors.

EMCON 2018 was also supported by Jackson Hogg as delivery partner.