Energy as clean as new laundry’s linen

Dec 23 2008 by Graeme King, The Journal

A NEW £3m laundry in North Tyneside is to create 79 jobs as a Scottish company expands south of the border.

Fishers Services, based in Cupar, north of Edinburgh, is opening the new base on the Tyne Tunnel Industrial Estate, next to the A19.

Fishers has been serving all its North East clients from its laundry in Fife, with a round trip of more than 200 miles for every item.

Now hotel chains such as Malmaison, Travelodge and Macdonald, owner of Linden Hall in Longhorsley, will benefit from what the company says will be a more reliable, and environmentally sound, service. Fishers is already up and running at the Intersect 19 development on the Tyne Tunnel estate and aims to have 30 staff by the end of January, rising to 79 by the end of 2009. The new laundry will process 250,000 items of laundry every week.

Fishers has been awarded a £500,000 Grant for Business Investment from One North East to bolster its investment, which will also incorporate the distribution function currently housed in Cramlington.

The Tyne Tunnel estate centre will become Fishers Services’ first linen hire production business in England, adding to those in Aberfeldy, Perth and Cupar.

The laundry will have a fully automated, continuous-process washing unit, folding and finishing equipment, and a separate garment processing tunnel, as well as three high volume, multi-purpose ironing lines.

Fishers is investing in environmental technology including heat recovery, water collection and recycling and minimising use of polythene and other packaging materials.

Managing director Bruce McHardy said: “We are pleased to be opening a facility in North Tyneside as part of our expansion project to meet the needs of our customer base.

“We also recognise the importance of using clean energy sources, and, with the North East renowned for its renewable energy production, we plan to work closely to find even greener ways to support business growth and development.” Beyond the GBI from One North East, Fishers Services was given guidance to find and secure its new premises by the agency’s inward investment team and by Tyne and Wear Development Company.

Director of business and industry at One North East Ian Williams said: “This project is great news for North Tyneside and the North East as it offers the prospect of long-term job opportunities supporting the continued development of the region.

“One North East is pleased to support a long-established sector leader like Fishers Services and we will continue to target grant support to create new jobs and grow businesses.”

Tyne and Wear Development Company manager Paul Buie said: “We are pleased to have played a part in securing the jobs and investment for the region.”