Solomons Europe is delighted to announce that it has joined the Northern Powerhouse Partner Programme.

The leading quanity surveying practice has it roots exclusively in the north of England, from where it provides integrated project and commercial services to major process, power and engineering developments across the UK.

With offices in Newton le Willows, Hartlepool and Cumbria, and the vast majority of staff born and bred in the region, Solomons is a true champion of the North’s business prowess.

Managing Director, Dominic Doig said: “We are delighted to become Northern Powerhouse partners. We are confident of our northern business’ ability to embrace the power of collective and collaborative approaches, championing growth and innovation in our regions.

“We hope that being part of this initiative will offer the opportunity to bring a strong SME voice, helping to shape sustainable regional futures for the longer term.”

Solomons continued to demonstrate its commitment to the North and confidence in its future this year by investing over £600,000 in the new Papcastle Depot office near the Cumbrian town of Cockermouth. It also launched an innovative fast track career conversion programme, which aims to tackle a shortage of skills in quantity surveying head on.

It has already taken on four new trainees – taking the team to 50 – to create new jobs and forge new career opportunities.

Joint business founder, Kerry Doig said: “Despite the current undeniable economic uncertainty, we are extremely optimistic for the ability of our strong and resilient northern regions to rise to the challenge and to create positive disruptions.

“We are ready to embrace new and exciting opportunities, like those being sought out by industry cluster groups such as Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster in Cumbria and NEPIC in the North East, who are strong champions for the continued presence of our powerful northern regions in pioneering economic, industrial and technological advances.

“It is vital we can pull together to represent a collective Northern voice, helping to promote the unique skills and talents the north has cultivated over the decades and to step up to the plate to actively stimulate new opportunities for career and business growth.”

As part of this commitment to growth, the business also has a strong focus on diversity and has this year been proud to see a sharp rise in female hires, representing 35% of new recruits, and which they believe is attributable to the strong focus placed on health and wellbeing and supportive cultures at the company.

This is further augmented by robust representation at senior level in the business, with 50% of top management roles being undertaken by female staff members. This is an area where the company works hard to achieve continuous improvement and accessibility.

Minister for the Northern Powerhouse, the Rt Hon Jake Berry MP, said: “I am delighted to announce Solomons Europe as the newest member of the ever-growing Northern Powerhouse Programme, made up of over 300 partner organisations, all committed to supporting the North to reach its full potential.

“Businesses like Solomons Europe, which are committed to developing their employees’ skills and creating new jobs, will play a vital role as we work together to level up and build on the Government’s £3.4 billion investment from the Local Growth Fund across the North.”