THERE are many companies thriving in space at NETPark’s Sedgefield site, and still more who use its virtual support network NETPark Net.

However, Eshtech is the first company to go from using the “virtual” service to setting up a physical base at the incubator on site.

Founder Gary Gibson was the former technical officer at NETPark tenant Kromek, and decided to make use of NETPark Net’s business development services when he set up his own company around 18 months ago.

The business soon grew from a home operation to a business with a base in Consett, but its expansion has now pushed it to the point where it also take on full-time office and lab space in the County Durham technology park. Eshtech now has a global client list, and offers services including business performance development, project management training and interim executive management services. Gibson said: “We needed to take on more space, and the team at NETPark are fantastic. They’ve got a really good entrepreneurial spirit and they really support us.”

When Gibson set up Eshtech, he fell back on his experience of sales and marketing with technology start-ups and blue chips. The consultancy work helped him to bring money into the business while developing his own technology. He said: “The biggest problem is the founders of these companies are often people who have great tech skills, but maybe not the commercial skills to market their technology successfully. I figured the service I could offer was to help them in this area and get them their first commercial sales. That opens up a whole new world of funding for them.”