A Newton Aycliffe-based manufacturing business has lent its 4.5 acres of land to a local dog training club in order to give back to its local community.
BTS Facades and Fabrications, which has its base on Aycliffe Business Park, has recently invested in making improvements to its offices, factory and outdoor space, to create a better working environment for its employees.
Since the company moved into the Aycliffe premises in 2012, the land surrounding the unit has stood derelict and unused, so earlier in the year the BTS team took to a vote to decide how it should be utilised going forward.
Abigail Craft, BTS’ production manager, suggested partnering with Newton Aycliffe Dog Training Club, as the group were struggling to find a secure outdoor area to train local pups.
She said: “As a member of the club myself, I can vouch for how fantastic the training is. My very own dog, Bridget, has achieved so much through the group’s social sessions.
“I love attending too as it’s an opportunity for me to get to know people in the area.
“As soon as I heard the club were in need of a designated area for these sessions, BTS’ outdoor land instantly sprung to mind. So, I rounded up the troops and we got to work on tidying up the land.”
The clear-up operation took the team months to complete, and a fence has been erected around the area to ensure it is safe and secure.
Newton Aycliffe Dog Training Club has been offering its services just over a year, after owners Lesley Thompson and Sonya Ingledew noticed a lack of socialisation skills in puppies and dogs as a consequence of Covid-19.
The training club offers weekly sessions for a range of ages and abilities, and aims to enhance a dog’s social skills, as well as bring together their owners to mingle too.
Sonya said: “We had been actively looking for some outdoor space, but one possibility had fallen through, and we were quite upset.
“We run dog training courses which Abigail Craft took part in with her Golden Retriever, Bridget. Abi knew we were looking for an outdoor space, so put us forward with the team at BTS.
“The team have been fabulous. We cannot thank them enough for allowing us to use this space.
“Wherever we saw an issue, they saw a solution. We feel welcomed by all at BTS and we are excited to see how this venture develops.”