‘The future’s really exciting’: Growing Hartlepool business set to transform former Utility Alliance building

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The former home of what was once one of Hartlepool’s major employers is to enjoy a new lease of life.

Four-storey Tranquility House, on Hartlepool Marina, is set to become a vibrant business hub thanks to expanding Hartlepool firm Orangebox Training Solutions.

The company has doubled its office staff during the pandemic and is expecting to further grow in the next year, adding twice as many people again to its team.

Orangebox will be using two floors with a client already lined up for a third and viewings underway for the fourth.

Simon Corbett, CEO of Orange Box, has shared some new opportunities coming to Tranquility House on the Marina.

Chief executive officer Simon Corbett, who co-owns Tranquility House, has said there are more opportunities lined up, with potential hot desk spaces for people to use and training and conference facilities to hire.

Mr Corbett said: "I think I got every emotion going. I’m excited to move into this fantastic building.

"It’s also slightly daunting, because it’s a large building.

"There’s a lot going on. The future’s really exciting.”

Tranquility House is the new home of Orange Box Training. Utility Alliance used to be located at the premises before going into administration earlier this year.

Orangebox, which provides training services in a range of areas, started in 2016.

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The company is currently located at the town’s Innovation Centre and Mr Corbett has said he had been on the lookout for new premises for a while after the business expanded.

He said: "During the pandemic, during the last 12 to 16 months, we’ve doubled our size of staff and we’ve tripled the size of the office space so our growth should continue.

"We now have office staff of 22 people. I would assume that would go up to around 40 people within the next 12 months.”

Mr Corbett continued: "There isn’t another building in town that affords views like this which is why I was obviously keen to get involved and move my business here.

"We’re currently renovating the building. It’s going to be a really nice office premises for people to use.

"We’re really open. I go back to when I started Orangebox five years ago and how helpful and supportive the Innovation Centre were to me.

"Now we are looking to offer this again to other local businesses to help them to grow.

"We want to keep the business community going around here.”

Tranquility House was the home of energy firm Utility Alliance before it went into administration in February this year.

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