4th March 2010Geocore Hots Up and Outgrows Innovation Centre 
An award-winning Tees-based ground investigation and geothermal heating company is expanding so successfully that it has outgrown UK Steel Enterprise's Innovation Centre at Redcar and moved into its own premises.
Geocore Site Investigations Ltd has marked its 10th year in business with new headquarters on the Kirkleatham Business Park, doubling its space and has invested in new equipment.
The workforce has grown from 18 to 30 over the past two years and continuing expansion is expected, helped by developments such as the government's recent announcement of Pay As You Save ‘green loans' to make homes more energy efficient.
The company has been quick to practise what it preaches by installing its highly cost-effective geothermal heating system in its new premises. The system takes heat direct from the earth, providing a very safe system with no local greenhouse emissions and it can reduce heating bills by as much as 75%.
“Obviously, we want the benefits of low cost green heating and hot water for our own premises but we are also installing a viewing platform so that prospective customers can see it in operation,” explained Adam Woodhead, who runs the company with his wife Michelle.
The company has just won a second major contract with Harrogate Borough Council to install the system in a further 100 homes and other completed projects include a fire station, a Yuill Homes housing development, Ministry of Defence base and Blenheim Palace.
Geocore Site Investigations (http://www.geocore.co.uk/) works on all types of ground investigation including subsidence and contaminated land assessment for loss adjusters, property developers and geo-environmental engineers.
Winner of a Shell Livewire Business Award and another for renewable energy, Geocore was the very first company to move into UK Steel Enterprise's Innovation Centre at Redcar in 2000.
“We expanded a number of times in the Centre, even moving into the extension after carrying out the ground investigation work for it, and it was a fantastic place for us to grow but, eventually, we just got too big,” said Adam. Simon Hamilton, UKSE Regional Manager said: “Geocore had the foresight to diversify into an area with huge potential for their business and for the environment at an early stage. Our Centres are designed to support young, growing businesses with a package of facilities and support that enables them to concentrate on growing their business and we are delighted to have played a part in Geocore's well-deserved success.” | 
