North firm wins contract to address energy needs
Jan 21 2010 by Karen Dent, The Journal
A NORTH EAST company has beaten off competition from around Europe to develop the website for a major project aiming to address the world's future energy needs.
Pearsons will put together a website and intranet system for the Barcelona-based international Fusion for Energy scheme, which is bringing together experts from all over the globe.
The team of international scientists is aiming to develop fusion – a system which would release energy by transferring power from the sun to the earth – as a major source of environmentally-friendly energy generation. Newcastle-based Pearsons, which also has offices in Stockton and Leeds, now faces the challenge of creating a website that is able to explain the key elements of the process, while also working as a communication tool for scientists and technicians, and an educational resource for the public.
More than 400 multi-lingual staff will be working on the Council for Europe-backed project in Spain and Pearsons also has to create the intranet system for internal communications for the scheme.
Pearsons managing director Lilian Hughes said winning the contract was a major opportunity for the company to showcase its work on a global scale.
“The tender process began months ago and we have been up against Europe’s top-rated digital companies but we have proved with our existing multi-national client base that we are easily capable of rising to this challenge, which we welcome,” she said.
“Proud to be a North East-based business in today’s technical environment, we have utilised digital conferencing and site visits to the Spanish base in Barcelona to maintain a close working relationship and to perfect the design and development of the website.”
The team, which includes Sue Cant, Simon Hawkins and Neil Donald, have a deadline of April this year to complete the website and intranet.
Ms Hughes said: “It is a particularly interesting project because the subject matter is so technical. Our challenge is to bring the project to life for the public, including particular target groups such as children, whilst also maintaining the interest of scientists, Government heads and financial investors.”
Pearsons, which has a £16m turnover and employs 57 people, originally concentrated on recruitment but diversified into websites and digital systems about 10 years ago.
It has put together websites and systems for clients including Arla Dairies, Attends Healthcare, Metro Radio Arena, CPP, Sanderson Young and a number of public sector organisations.
