IN THE NORTH EAST

Anson was first registered as a private limited company in 1981, operating from a factory in Blaydon. The first product a Hammer Lug Union, (used in the Oil and Gas industries) was produced in 1982 and within two years the Company moved to more modern premises within the Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead. The workforce increased to 35. Further products were developed and during the following twenty years, steady growth was achieved increasing the local labour force to 130 and the factory units to three, also during this time worldwide locations were opened which in turn created an influx of foreign visitors to the Gateshead area.

The following five years saw a rapid increase in business which resulted in the Company requiring further manufacturing facilities, the decision was made to keep them in the North East of England, even though the competitors were utilising cheaper sources from Asia and the Far East. A Facility was found on the Team Valley only 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away, this new facility was three times larger than the existing site and was fully operational by August 2005, the Company was now providing local employment for 280 people.

However it does not stop there, expansion is continuing and as of January 2008, employment has increased to 380 within the Gateshead facility and plans are in place for further expansion which will take the local workforce to in excess of 400 within the next six months.

During the Companies lifetime we have been awarded with two Queen's awards, one for Export achievement and one for Technology achievement, Anson have also received two Northern business awards, the first and only company to receive two such awards on the same presentation night.

In 1994 the Company were ranked 34th in the Sunday Times fastest profit growth firms within the whole of the UK and in July 2007 we were ranked within the top 200 companies for turnover in the North of England, and in July 2008 we were again ranked within the top 200 companies, these annual rankings are compiled by the Journal newspaper in conjunction with Durham Business School. Anson were also included in the top three for the NOF Energy Company of the Year award for 2007.

All of the above was made possible due to the skills and dedication of the locally employed workforce.