Editor's note
The following is a press release, circulated to the local press to mark our 20th Anniversary. We thought it might be worthy of making our website too!
New appointments at Sunderland’s Cedrec to support growth
New starters mark firm's 20 years in business
A Sunderland firm specialising in online safety and environmental legislation advice is marking 20 years in business with new starters to meet demand for its services.
New appointments at expanding Cedrec include writers Amy Batch and Martha Redpath, who will be joining an experienced team in the writing department providing online content and guidance on the latest legislation for all sectors of industry.
Both are University of Sunderland graduates with extensive writing expertise while Martha Redpath also has a legal background, which will be beneficial in advising clients on technical legal enquiries.
The move comes as Cedrec, formed in 1994 in Sunderland by directors Steven Armstrong and Gareth Billinghurst, plans to boost current turnover of approximately £500,000 by a further £1 million in the next three years.
Currently employing 16 people, the company is seeing increased demand for the specialist advice it provides to help private and public sector organisations understand, interpret and comply with complex legislation.
Cedrec offers a range of consultancy and subscriptions services which companies such as Virgin Trains, Nissan and Heerema Hartlepool use to improve the quality of their health and safety and environmental systems.
As it secures its client base and, in turn revenue, Neil Howe, senior legal author and auditor, said over the last two decades Cedrec has established its reputation in delivering proven added value expertise with a track record of working with some of the UK's largest organisations.
He said: "This is a very exciting time for Cedrec. We have continued to grow year-on-year, but this really makes a statement of intent that we want to push our products forward to where we believe they deserve to be.
"Legislation evolves constantly, so it's important for us to be fast and reactive to keep on top of the changes. It's essential therefore that whoever comes into the writing team has the necessary skills to excel."
He added that Cedrec will continue to support its talented team while encouraging and nurturing a new generation of young, highly skilled people within the firm and the wider industry who will be based at the office.
"We have excellent links with the Careers and Employability Service at the University Sunderland, and they’ve been brilliant in helping us get two truly exceptional applicants," said Neil Howe.
"As a local graduate myself, I feel very proud to be able to offer Martha the chance to further her career in legal research, and in the case of Amy, to start her career in the North East.
"They will both bring new skills, a new focus and a new energy to our company, and I can’t wait for them to start."