Serving the Teesside Business Community | 7
/NEWS
Glenn Bartlett of Luxury Chauffering
Services on the airport tarmac with
Kelly Dillon of Consort Aviation.
BUSINESS BITES
CHAUFFEUR SO GOOD FOR LCS
A
Teesside company that’s been a
chauffeur to the stars as well as many
of the region’s leading businesspeople
is set for take-off after sealing a contract
with the supplier of private jet and VIP flight
services at Durham Tees Valley Airport.
Norton-based Luxury Chauffeuring
Services and its sister company, Close
Protection Security, will act as approved
suppliers for the airport’s Consort Aviation
brand, whose services include private jet,
group charter and VIP flight services.
Run by owner Glenn Bartlett, Luxury
Chauffeuring Services (LCS) offer their high-
end taxi services via a BMW 7 Series and
5 Series, an S-class Mercedes and a Range
Rover, but can provide a service in virtually
any prestige motor that customers request.
Bartlett, who has worked in the industry
for 10 years, has provided chauffeuring
and security services to an all-star cast
including business leader Duncan Bannatyne,
TV double act Ant and Dec, former
Middlesbrough and England manager Steve
McClaren, Boro star Stewart Downing during
his England days, and champion jockey Jim
Crowley.
Having previously looked after the film
crew for blockbuster Transformers during
filming in the North-East, LCS recently
provided chauffeuring services to actors,
directors and camera crew involved in The
Avengers movie during shooting around
Durham Cathedral.
Along with senior Middlesbrough FC staff,
Boro stars and their partners are also clients
of LCS and Close Protection Security (CPS),
which Bartlett runs with business partner Lee
Nicholson
LCS and CPS have provided chauffeuring
and security services for the hugely popular
SkyLive airshow for the past two years,
providing a smooth passage and protection
for leading bands Toploader and Livin’ Joy,
whilst also working for organiser Chris Petty
of Cornerstone Business Solutions.
“LCS isn’t just a standard taxi company,”
explains Bartlett, who was Bannatyne’s
personal driver for several years. “We offer
a prestige, personalised service that has
reliability and confidentiality as its bedrock.
“Our clients include high-profile
businessmen and women, for whom trust
and confidentiality is a key factor. They know
that what’s said in the car stays in the car.
But it’s also about reliability. If they’re getting
off a long flight from overseas, they need to
know we’ll be there and that we’ll get them
to wherever they need to be at the time they
need to be there.”
To book or for more details about
services provided by LCS and CPS, email
[email protected] or call 07713
115809.
Tees airport announces terminal investment
P
lans for significant improvements to
passenger facilities at Durham Tees
Valley Airport have been revealed.
The first phase of a major investment
programme will be completed by the end of
September, involving extensive remodelling
of the departure lounge, providing free
unlimited Wi-Fi, together with designated
work stations and charging points, and
improved retail services under a new
‘Xpress’ brand.
The second phase, which could start
as early as the autumn, will see further
improvements, including the return of tax-
free shopping and a major upgrade of the
business lounge area.
In addition there will be a revamp of the
airport’s Privilege Membership Club with
exclusive discounts and offers for travellers
and, as part of the drive to provide the
best level of customer service, staff will
be undertaking a World Host Accreditation
training programme.
£6M CRANE INVESTMENT
PD Ports has welcomed the delivery of
a new ship-to-shore crane which will
support growing demand from shippers
using Teesport to serve northern UK
markets.
The £6m crane was delivered to
be assembled at the port after being
manufactured by Liebherr Container
Cranes Limited in Killarney, Ireland and
Rostock, Germany.
Co-financed by the European Union’s
Connecting Europe Facility, the new
ship-to-shore crane will be situated in
Teesport Container Terminal Two (TCT2),
boosting the port’s ability to service
greater container volumes, which have
grown 12% year-on-year for the last
seven years.
LEGAL FIRM LAUNCHED
Solicitor and mediator Samantha Lowe
has launched an innovative legal service
in one of Middlesbrough’s most historic
buildings but is taking a modern approach
to offering her expertise in the North-East
and nationally.
Originally from Middlesbrough, Lowe
– who graduated from University of
Northumbria at Newcastle with First
Class Honours in LLB Law with French
Law before joining top 100 law firm Ward
Hadaway where she worked for nine
years – has started her own firm based at
Acklam Hall in Middlesbrough.
BANNATYNE PROFITS UP TO £11.6M
The Bannatyne Group has reported
strong turnover and profit growth in
annual results posted to Companies
House for the year ending December 31
2016.
With 67 sites across the UK under the
Bannatyne Health Club brand – including
two on Teesside, Ingleby Barwick and
Coulby Newham – the Bannatyne
Group’s turnover jumped from £101m to
£112.2m, with pre-tax profits climbing
from £7.7m to £11.6m.
The group, which now has more than
200,000 members and employs in the
region of 3,000 people, also operates 37
spas, with plans to open six more in 2017,
and five hotels.
NEW OFFICES AT ICONIC BUILDING
Work has started on an iconic Teesside
building that aims to provide businesses
with the perfect ambience and business
community, thanks to a £1.2m injection
from a local investor.
Commerce House in Middlesbrough
is having life breathed back into its
Grade II Listed structure by Commerce
Chambers.
The building, which was originally built
in 1872, is in the centre of the city’s soon
to be thriving commercial district and is
right next to the train station, a stone’s
throw from the A66.