North Tyneside Mayor hails Pryme Group’s success in adapting to new working environment

Norma Redfearn CBE, Elected Mayor of North Tyneside, has paid tribute to a north-east manufacturing firm for its response to the pandemic, including its support for critical sectors, during a recent visit.


Picture : Deputy Mayor Cllr Bruce Pickard, Kerrie Murray, CEO, Pryme Group; Mayor Norma Redfearn CBE; Sean Collier, North Tyneside Council; and, Lawrence Ross, Chairman, Pryme Group.


Staff at Pryme Group have worked tirelessly to adapt to the Covid-19 environment and the business has been active in providing equipment for healthcare and other essential industries since the spring.

Based at the Tyne Tunnel Estate in North Shields, the company provides contract manufacturing and integrated engineering solutions to a wide range of industry sectors from six specialist divisions across the UK. Pryme Group has continued its diversification strategy into new markets, including the pharmaceutical and healthcare equipment sectors; a process accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In April, the company set-up a rapid response machining unit dedicated to turning-around essential parts for clients at short notice; given the forced closure or reduced capacity at some other machine shops.

Norma Redfearn CBE, Cllr Bruce Pickard, Deputy Mayor of North Tyneside, and Sean Collier, senior manager for business and enterprise at North Tyneside Council, were welcomed to the company’s facility by senior management for a tour of its machine shop, fabrication shop and Hydratron’s manufacturing facility.

In 2019, Hydratron’s manufacturing capability was relocated to the North Tyneside site. Commercial staff, based in its Altrincham offices, have successfully adapted to working from home during the pandemic, which has allowed the group company to develop this as a permanent working arrangement.

Kerrie Murray, CEO at Pryme Group, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome our esteemed guests and allow them to see first-hand the work that has been going on to support critical industries and key workers over recent months.

“I’m proud of how our team has pulled together and adapted to working against the backdrop of Covid-19. That spirit will be crucial, going forward, as we continue to grow and develop the business throughout the north-east of England and beyond.”

The development of Pryme Group’s purpose-built engineering and manufacturing centre was supported by both public and private sector organisations, including North Tyneside Council, UK Land Estates and the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

In November 2018, the 58,000 sq. ft facility was officially opened by Mayor Redfearn following a £10million investment in construction and equipment, which also saw employees relocate to the area from nearby Ryton, Tyne and Wear.

Norma Redfearn CBE commented: “It was a pleasure to be welcomed back to Pryme Group’s North Tyneside headquarters two years after being part of the official opening. I was fascinated to hear the fantastic progress the company has made in such a short space of time and how it has adapted to the new reality we find ourselves in.

“It’s particularly heartening to hear how the company has been involved in supporting healthcare and critical industries throughout the pandemic and I wish everyone well and look forward to catching up again with everyone in the future – hopefully when things have returned to some sort of normality.”

Councillor Bruce Pickard, Deputy Mayor for North Tyneside and Cabinet Member for Business and Economic Development, said: “The last six months have been extremely difficult for all our North Tyneside businesses, so it was fantastic to meet the management team and staff at Pryme Group and find out how this incredibly resilient company has managed to navigate its way through the Covid crisis by diversifying into new markets.

“Since Pryme Group opened its facility on Tyne Tunnel Estate, it has provided valuable employment for local residents and we look forward to working alongside the business as it continues to prosper in the borough.”

Earlier this year, a strategic decision was taken by Pryme Group to focus the North Tyneside facility’s output exclusively on heavy machining capability, producing parts between 600mm and 2,000mm in diameter; consequently, several smaller machines were re-allocated to other specialist units within the group.

The business has committed to investing in additional infrastructure improvements at the site. To date, it has benefited from £4.5million in new equipment and CNC machinery; with new technology and increased efficiencies improving on-time delivery, whilst allowing the company’s customer base to bring innovative products to market.

Location: North Tyneside, England, UK