Review prompts merger plan for TEDCO and NEMI

Jul 9 2010 by Iain Laing, The Journal

THE GOVERNMENT’S review of business support agencies has prompted TEDCO and the North of England Microelectronics Institute (NEMI) to merge.

The two organisations, which operate throughout the region but largely focus on North Tyneside, will join to form a company with 60 employees. TEDCO’s chief executive Doug Scott said no job losses would be required from either of the companies in their current states.

He said: “We both work in North Tyneside but we’ve tended to work with different clients. In the current environment of the business support review the Government is going through, things are a lot less certain than they have been for many years.

“We saw advantages in sharing services and costs.”

TEDCO received a UK Business Incubation Award for its management of Berwick Workspace last year, and provides support including enterprise coaching, business start-up advice and procurement work.

It works from premises in South and North Tyneside, Northumberland and Darlington.

Scott said: “This builds on the opportunities we’re already trying to develop. They’re not yet clear, but We’ve made a few judgements on what we think the growth areas will be, such as sales regeneration, markets and procurement.”

NEMI was established in 1997 initially to tend to the microelectronics industry in the region, and now offers technology support to companies around Europe. It also handles workforce development, business support, broadband communication and premises management.

General manager of NEMI Dr John Williams said: “With this move our complementary skills and assets can be deployed much more efficiently for the benefit of a wide range of regional firms and individuals.”