• Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
    • Business News
    • Business Mag
  • Sport
    • Football
    • NAFC
    • Cricket
    • Durham Wildcats
    • American Football
    • Baseball
    • Rugby
    • Youth Football
  • Features
    • Blog
    • Picture Galleries
  • Community
    • A.T People
    • Services Directory
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Aycliffe Today
Aycliffe Today
  • Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
    • Business News
      NC Group strengthens board with new appointment

      NC Group strengthens board with new appointment

      How Aspire programme is lifting the lid of Aycliffe Business Park for our young people

      How Aspire programme is lifting the lid of Aycliffe Business Park for our young people

      🌍 Promote your business on a national stage!

      🌍 Promote your business on a national stage!

      Double health awards joy for Karen and Senstronics colleagues

      Double health awards joy for Karen and Senstronics colleagues

    • Business Mag
      Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 71

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 71

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 70

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 70

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 69

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 69

  • Sport
    • Football
      Aycliffe Youthy round-up

      Aycliffe Youthy round-up

      Aycliffe stay third with 4-0 away win

      Aycliffe stay third with 4-0 away win

      Aycliffe go top with four wins from first four games

      Aycliffe go top with four wins from first four games

      Unbeaten start for Sports Club

      Unbeaten start for Sports Club

    • NAFC
      Aycliffe FC celebrate record season with club awards night

      Aycliffe FC celebrate record season with club awards night

      Aycliffe narrowly miss out on play-off place – but achieve record league finish

      Aycliffe narrowly miss out on play-off place – but achieve record league finish

      Aycliffe’s play-off push on track – last home game Easter Monday!

      Aycliffe’s play-off push on track – last home game Easter Monday!

      Aycliffe boost play-off hopes with win in Leeds

      Aycliffe boost play-off hopes with win in Leeds

    • Cricket
      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Captain Chris chalks up 750 not out for Aycliffe

      Captain Chris chalks up 750 not out for Aycliffe

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

    • Durham Wildcats
      WILDCATS FIGHTBACK TO SECURE CUP WIN

      WILDCATS FIGHTBACK TO SECURE CUP WIN

      WOLVES EDGE IT AGAINST WILDCATS

      WOLVES EDGE IT AGAINST WILDCATS

      DURHAM WILDCATS 73, GLASGOW ROCKS 99

      DURHAM WILDCATS 73, GLASGOW ROCKS 99

      WILDCATS SLAY LIONS AGAIN

      WILDCATS SLAY LIONS AGAIN

    • American Football
      WARRIORS BEAT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

      WARRIORS BEAT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

      WARRIORS START SEASON IN STYLE!

      WARRIORS START SEASON IN STYLE!

      WOODHAM WARRIORS VICTORIOUS

      WOODHAM WARRIORS VICTORIOUS

      WARRIORS COACH TO TRAIN GB SQUAD

      WARRIORS COACH TO TRAIN GB SQUAD

    • Baseball
      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      COUNCILLORS 'PITCH' FOR LOCAL SPORTS CLUB!

      COUNCILLORS 'PITCH' FOR LOCAL SPORTS CLUB!

      SPARTANS UP FOR TOP AWARD

      SPARTANS UP FOR TOP AWARD

      NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPARTANS AT WOODHAM

      NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPARTANS AT WOODHAM

    • Rugby
      Aycliffe fall to heavy defeat against league leaders

      Aycliffe fall to heavy defeat against league leaders

      Aycliffe notch up another loss in local derby

      Aycliffe notch up another loss in local derby

      Rugby: Aycliffe in bottom two after Whitley Bay defeat

      Rugby: Aycliffe in bottom two after Whitley Bay defeat

      Aycliffe return to winning ways with hard-fought victory over Bishop

      Aycliffe return to winning ways with hard-fought victory over Bishop

    • Youth Football
      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Newton Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Newton Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

  • Features
    • Blog
      Covid-19 crisis update from your MP

      Covid-19 crisis update from your MP

      ‘Now we must move forward’ says MP

      ‘Now we must move forward’ says MP

      Business Advice: Cash Flow

      Business Advice: Cash Flow

      The Aycliffe Blue Blog

      The Aycliffe Blue Blog

    • Picture Galleries
      Picture Gallery: Duke of Kent visits Ebac

      Picture Gallery: Duke of Kent visits Ebac

      PICTURES: Hitachi Opening Ceremony

      PICTURES: Hitachi Opening Ceremony

      PICTURES: ROF 59 in progress

      PICTURES: ROF 59 in progress

      PICTURES: Ayclife dancers in national finals

      PICTURES: Ayclife dancers in national finals

  • Community
    • A.T People
      Spring 2015

      Spring 2015

      December 2014

      December 2014

      Aug - Sept 2014

      Aug - Sept 2014

    • Services Directory
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
Newcomer award win ‘awesome’ say Fish Tank bosses
Home
Business

Newcomer award win ‘awesome’ say Fish Tank bosses

June 7th, 2022 Martin Walker Business 0 comments 997

top banner

The husband-and-wife team behind the new Fish Tank facility on Aycliffe Business Park were proud to have won the Aycliffe Newcomer of the Year award against such tough opposition.

The Fish Tank opened its doors on Aycliffe Business Park in January 2020 and is now established as one of the North-East’s premium family swimming and activity venues.

The facility – run by Paul and Penny Gordon – pipped Rare Rockets and Valhalla North to the Newcomer category in the 2022 Make Your Mark Awards, held at Redworth Hall Hotel.

“It’s amazing to win this award – we really appreciate it,” said Penny.

“Thank you to everyone who made that decision and got us here.”

And Paul added: “I think we’ve done fantastically well. There are some amazing new businesses on the park and to be recognised as newcomer of the year means the world.

“It’s awesome. It’s at times like this that you look back and realise how far you’ve come.

“It really means a lot to be recognised as newcomer of the year on the business park – it’s fantastic.”

Paul and Penny spotted an opening in the market for a bespoke baby and toddler swimming centre.

In the first three months of this year alone, the Fish Tank welcomed more than 6,000 customers through its doors.

Penny: “We’re both really passionate about what we do. We wanted the venue to feel welcoming and accommodating and I think our passion has shown through.

“And we’ve chosen the right team to make that happen – it’s not just me and Paul, it’s the whole team and they deliver our vision.

“We’re now teaching 400 babies, toddlers and children to swim every week at The Fish Tank which is pretty amazing – a nice life skill for everybody.”

Paul said: “It’s taken a lifetime to get here and make The Fish Tank a reality. It was an uphill struggle to get it built and then lockdown hit, but we got through it, we survived and now we’re thriving.”

Since opening, The Fish Tank has grown its team to 15 – between The Fish Tank and The Happy Swim Company – and currently teaches 350 babies and children to swim every week.

And Paul and Penny’s ambitions don’t stop there, with the couple having already identified three more potential sites in the North-East for expansion.

“We’ve always had a dream of multiple fish tanks,” said Paul.

“We’ve got The Swim Company, which runs from The Fish Tank exclusively, so with those two businesses, we’ve got what it takes to roll it out.

“We’ve got multiple sites identified across the region already and are in talks with developers to get on specific sites, so the next few years are going to be a lot of hard work but it’s definitely going to be worth it.”

The Newcomer Award was sponsored by Business Durham and presented by councillor James Rowlandson, Durham County Council’s cabinet portfolio holder for resources, investment and assets.

Business Durham managing director Sarah Slaven said: “The Make Your Mark awards was a truly inspiring event, it was great to see so many businesses being nominated and of course a huge congratulations to all the winners.

“After a challenging two years, it is very important that we recognise the achievements of businesses on the Aycliffe Business Park.

“Our role at Business Durham is to support businesses new and established in the county, and we were delighted once again to sponsor the ‘Newcomer of the Year’ category. It is so important to celebrate new businesses, whether they are just setting out or are new to the area.

“Learning about each one of those nominated, they all would have been worthy winners.

“So, congratulations to Rare Rockets and Valhalla North, on their nomination, and to The Fish Tank, in particular, for winning Newcomer of the Year.”

 

top banner

Share it!

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Next article Making travel more active across County Durham
Previous article Council director shares owns experiences for Carer’s Week

Related News

NC Group strengthens board with new appointment Business
June 24th, 2025

NC Group strengthens board with new appointment

How Aspire programme is lifting the lid of Aycliffe Business Park for our young people Business
June 19th, 2025

How Aspire programme is lifting the lid of Aycliffe Business Park for our young people

🌍 Promote your business on a national stage! Business
June 18th, 2025

🌍 Promote your business on a national stage!

LATEST VIDEO

This week on A.T

Jun 25th 10:18 AM
News

Council committed to supporting Armed Forces

Jun 24th 3:16 PM
Community

Support for single households facing homelessness

Jun 24th 10:54 AM
Business

NC Group strengthens board with new appointment

Jun 23rd 4:01 PM
Sport

Aycliffe Cricket round-up

Jun 23rd 11:21 AM
News

Views sought on future of Newton Aycliffe and Shildon

Jun 20th 9:31 AM
Community

Woodham Academy students reach for success with retro café business

Jun 19th 3:34 PM
Business

How Aspire programme is lifting the lid of Aycliffe Business Park for our young people

Jun 19th 6:08 AM
News

Durham Constabulary intelligence specialist has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List

Jun 18th 10:36 AM
Business

🌍 Promote your business on a national stage!

Jun 17th 4:42 PM
Sport

Aycliffe Cricket round-up

Recommend
Follow @AycliffeToday
  • Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Community
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Back to top
© Aycliffe Today 2019. All rights reserved.
Developed by Thrive