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Cyber Essentials

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 18:08:56 GMT

Cyber Essentials Certification

Turnmill Engineering are proud to announce we have achieved Cyber Essentials Certification.

Our ethos is to be trusted suppliers to our partner customers. Our customers data security is extremely important to us and the Cyber Essentials Certification demonstrates our commitment this. As we operate in a multitude of sectors including Automotive, Renewables, Oil and Gas and Defence this certification is becoming increasingly important. As we look forward to the future and continuing our expansion Turnmill has committed to this award.

Its thanks to the Turnmill teams hard work that we have achieved this award on the first attempt.

An Industrial Strategy that Works for SMEs

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:20:58 GMT

As an SME in the North East, I welcome the renewed focus on a UK Industrial Strategy.

For a business like Turnmill, where we manufacture jigs, fixtures and precision components for regional and national firms, it isn’t abstract policy but the framework that shapes our future.

For SMEs, the most valuable part of any strategy is stability. We make long term investments in people, equipment and technology. Knowing the government is committed to supporting advanced manufacturing and clean energy gives us greater confidence to plan for growth rather than just reacting to short term pressures.

Skills are another critical area. Like many independent firms, we rely on a strong pipeline of apprentices and skilled machinists. National investment in training is welcome, but delivery on the ground is what counts. The North East has a proud track record of developing engineering talent, and we need to make sure SMEs can access those programmes as easily as larger employers.

Finally, access to opportunity is key. Whether that’s finance to help us modernise, or procurement frameworks that give SMEs a fair shot at major contracts, a successful industrial strategy must ensure smaller firms aren’t left behind.

Get those foundations right, and SMEs like Turnmill can continue to play a vital role in strengthening UK manufacturing through supporting larger supply chains and creating high quality jobs in our communities.

Andrew Howe, Operations Director

We’re exhibiting at Offshore Wind North East

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 14:20:22 GMT

Turnmill Engineering is set to showcase its expertise at Offshore Wind North East, taking place on November 6th and 7th at the Beacon of Light in Sunderland.

The event, organised by NOF and EnergiCoast, gathers industry leaders and innovators from across the offshore wind sector. Turnmill Engineering will exhibit on the RTC North supply chain village, where it will highlight its manufacturing capabilities and services tailored for the offshore wind market.

This prominent event offers an excellent platform for industry to connect, demonstrate commitments to renewable energy, and reinforce the role of the North East's expanding offshore wind supply chain.

Welcome to the team, Maddison!

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 08:56:10 GMT

We’re thrilled to announce that Maddison has joined the Turnmill team as our new apprentice!

At just 17 years old, Maddison becomes the youngest member of the company, bringing fresh energy and enthusiasm to the role.

Currently studying at Newcastle College, Maddison will be honing her skills as an apprentice CNC machinist. As part of our commitment to supporting the next generation of engineers, we’ll be providing her with hands-on experience and mentorship from our experienced team.

We believe in investing in young talent and are excited to see Maddison thrive as she helps shape the future of engineering at Turnmill.

Welcome aboard, Maddison – we can’t wait to see all that you’ll accomplish!

Turnmill to Exhibit at Industry Leading EMCON and NEAA Expo

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 08:49:52 GMT

Catch us at EMCON and the NEAA Expo 2024

Turnmill Engineering, North East engineering specialists who support global, national and regional companies with product design, development and volume manufacture, is set to showcase its subcontracting services at two major industry events this year - EMCON and the NEAA Expo. The company will highlight its machining capabilities and engineering solutions to a diverse audience of industry professionals and potential partners.

EMCON, a flagship event for the Engineering and Manufacturing Network, will take place on 12 ^th September 2024 at the Rainton Arena in Durham, while the NEAA Expo, organised by the North East Automotive Alliance, is scheduled for 26 ^th September at the Beacon of Light in Sunderland. Turnmill's participation signals its dedication to remaining at the forefront of manufacturing industry in the region.

Directors and apprentices from Turnmill are expected to engage with leaders, furthering their presence in the competitive engineering landscape.

EMCON: Stand 74

NEAA Expo: Stand C9

Turnmill finalists for Made in the North East Awards 2024

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 15:32:56 GMT

Turnmill in the running for Manufacturer of the Year (Under £25m)

Now in it's 12th year, the Made in the North East Awards are a fantastic opportunity to showcase the quality products and services that manufacturing and engineering companies supply and the skilled people that work for them.

With 11 categories, the Manufacturer of the Year (Under £25m) aims to recognise the achievements of the region’s manufacturing companies who have demonstrated excellence and made an outstanding contribution to the manufacturing sector in the region during the past 12 months.

Andrew Howe, Operations Director at Turnmill commented, "It's brilliant to be shortlisted for this award for a second year running, and is great testament to the full team here at Turnmill. The past 12 months have been a year of significant growth for us, and to be recognised is a great achievement in itself."

The ceremony will take place on Thursday 14th March at the Hilton Gateshead, with the winner automatically going through to the national final later this year.

Meet Jaymi McLean, our Apprentice!

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 10:25:03 GMT

Meet Jaymi McLean, our apprentice! Here we chat to him and learn more about life at Turnmill and the projects he’s been part of. This is a chance to get a glimpse into the world of engineering through the eyes of someone just starting their journey.

What specific tasks and projects have you been working on recently and what has been your favourite one so far?

I've been working on making parts for a machine that helps position and secure items during production for an automotive customer. We teamed up with our customer's engineers for this project, and I personally made some of these parts from the drawings they provided. Additionally, with guidance from my supervisor, I set up and programmed a CNC milling machine to make sure the parts are the right size and shape before carefully adding holes.

Can you describe any new skills or techniques you’ve recently learned?

I'm proud of my recent progress in CNC programming. I used the machine's built-in tools to make special pockets in components for a renewable energy customer. This project let me show my skills in using the machine to create customised features, making each pocket just right for the components. It was tough but satisfying, and it made me better at CNC programming. It also showed me how important it is to be precise and careful when making parts for different industries..

How have you been applying the theoretical knowledge you’ve gained in your training to practical tasks?

This month, I'm starting my CNC Machine Technician course at Newcastle College. I'm excited about this opportunity because it will help me improve my engineering knowledge.

I'm looking forward to learning more about CNC technology, something I've been interested in for a while. This course will give me hands-on experience with advanced CNC machines and help me understand how they work and how to program them. I'm also looking forward to learning from experienced instructors and working with classmates who are also interested in precision engineering. This educational journey will give me the skills and expertise I need to advance my career at Turnmill, and I'm excited about what the future holds for me here!

Turnmill finalists in Sunderland Business Excellence Awards 2023

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 15:17:29 GMT

Turnmill Engineering has been confirmed as finalists for the Sunderland Business Excellence Awards 2023.

These popular awards recognises and rewards a cross section of businesses and the vital role that they sector play in the economic success within the North East.

Shortlisted for SME Business of the Year, this category aims to recognise outstanding performance by a company with a workforce of 1-249 staff who is excelling in their field.

Turnmill had to prove to the judges evidence of clear strategy and vision, aligned with financial growth and/or team, alongside how they have overcome challenges and turned difficult situations around. In addition, the judges also requested proof of excellence in their field and commitment to customer service alongside investment in training and performance and innovative marketing.

Sponsored by Sunderland City Council, the awards dinner will take place on Thursday 16 ^th November at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.

Turnmill Engineering have their sights set on further growth with ISO

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 11:12:19 GMT

Turnmill Engineering, based at Washington Business Centre, have their sights firmly set on ongoing growth as they successfully gain UKAS accredited ISO 9001 certification with the support of Sunderland business, Compliant.

Located within the heart of the region’s advanced manufacturing sector, they support global, national and regional companies across multiple industries with product design, development and volume manufacture. Their dedicated leadership team have a wealth of experience within the engineering industry and pride themselves on supporting their clients to achieve their production goals.

Compliant, who are owned by BSI trained lead auditor, Mark Henderson, work with businesses across the UK and America as they support them to gain UKAS accredited ISO certifications.

Coming together via a Meet The Buyer event, Compliant supported Turnmill throughout the ISO process, creating and implementing the quality management system and successfully guiding them through the external audit process.

ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised quality standard, designed to be a powerful business improvement tool, the certification helps to continually monitor areas of improvement and can enable businesses to win more business and build a resilient and sustainable company.

Operations Director of Turnmill Engineering, Andrew Howe, was delighted with the ISO success, commenting, “Gaining the ISO 9001 quality standard will enable our business to tender for further opportunities within the UK and international supply chain while also giving our clients the reassurance we provide a first class service and are committed to quality. We knew that Compliant had a good reputation within our sector and we really appreciated the way Mark kept in touch throughout the process while also giving us the opportunity to get on with running the business. The Compliant team provided the right level of support to enable us to successfully gain the UKAS accredited ISO 9001 certification.”

Compliant’s Mark Henderson, who was the project lead throughout the process commented, “ISO certification has become an integral part of many businesses looking to grow and invest. We worked with the team at Turnmill Engineering to create a bespoke ISO 9001 management system which reflects their ongoing commitment to quality and future growth plans. Andrew and the team have been great to work with and we look forward to seeing how their ISO journey progresses in the coming months and years.”

Award-winning business leader appointed as Non Executive Director

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 11:10:45 GMT

North East industrialist, Andrew Esson, appointed as a Non Executive Director at Turnmill Engineering

Andrew Esson will bring both extensive expertise and passion to help Turnmill, based at Washington Business Centre on Wearside, further grow and prosper.

Turnmill, which is a member of NOF, the UK business development organisation for the energy sectors, manufactures consumables, jigs and fixtures and machine components predominantly for automotive, pharmaceuticals, motorsport and construction businesses.

It also helps companies and individuals develop concepts and prototypes, bring new products to market and improve production processes.

Andrew, who throughout his career has won a clutch of prestigious awards, has a portfolio of non-executive and advisory roles and through his business Esson Partnership Limited, works tirelessly to help businesses grow and develop in his adopted North East, and beyond.

A chartered engineer, Andrew, who has amassed an inimitable blend of corporate and SME experience, became the youngest ever director of a Weir Group company, with his appointment in 1996 as production director at Hopkinsons Limited in Huddersfield

Eight years later, Andrew took on his first managing director’s role at Ashington-based ContiTech Beattie. Under his stewardship, ContiTech Beattie achieved a variety of business accolades, including Investors in People Champion status, triple success at the Institution of Mechanical Engineer’s Manufacturing Excellence (MX) Awards, and a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

His personal accolades have included:

Winning the Institute of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland’s Gold Medal for Engineering in 1996.

Being crowned the 2010 Business Executive of the Year for Northumberland and Tyneside.

Insider North East Deal Maker’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2012.

An Entrepreneurs Forum Entrepreneur of the Year finalist in 2014.

Andrew moved out of the corporate world in 2011, acquiring a small specialist hydraulics business, Quick Hydraulics, via a Management Buy-In.

Having sold his business in 2015, and after 20 years as a business executive/entrepreneur, Andrew took the opportunity to move onto the third phase of his career, to help companies grow and prosper as a non-exec, consultant and advisor.

Andrew said: “I relish new challenges and really enjoy working with growing and ambitious businesses such as Turnmill. I am looking forward to using my knowledge and expertise to help optimise opportunities and prospects at the company.”

Andrew Howe, Turnmill co-founder and operations director, said: “Andrew has forged an outstanding track record as a business leader, entrepreneur and business adviser, which is reflected by the swathe of high-status awards he has won during his impressive career.

In his capacity as a non-executive director, Andrew will bring a wealth of expertise and knowledge to help propel Turnmill to the next level in its development and growth.”