Dyer apprentices put community safety at heart

A County Durham engineering firm is helping put lifesaving support at the heart of its local community by installing a publicly accessible defibrillator.

Dyer has donated the lifesaving equipment near its Annfield Plain site after receiving it from long-standing charity partner Red Sky Foundation.

The defibrillator was gifted following the 2026 Manufacturers Leaders’ Summit at New College Durham, where Dyer parent company SST Group was platinum sponsor and more than £11,000 was raised for the charity.

Rather than retain the equipment for internal use, Dyer tasked first-year apprentices Leon Price, Alex Dixon, Joe Cummings and Logan Venus with helping identify where it could have the greatest community impact.

Working alongside HSE lead Matthew Dyer, the apprentices researched potential sites before recommending a location at neighbouring business PMI Creative.

Installation was completed free of charge by local firm Brittons Electrical Services.

Adam Leggett, managing director of Dyer, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Red Sky Foundation for gifting the defibrillator and proud that our apprentices have played such an important role in bringing this project to life.

“Our nationally award-winning apprenticeship programme with New College Durham develops not only technical skills, but also encourages our young engineers to make a positive contribution to their local community.”

Red Sky Foundation funds defibrillators and cardiac care across the North East, with Dyer having raised more than £10,000 for the charity during their long-standing partnership.

Sergio Petrucci MBE, chief executive and founder of Red Sky Foundation, added: “We're delighted to see this defibrillator installed where it can make a real difference to the local community.

“Partnerships with organisations like Dyer help us extend access to life-saving equipment across the region, giving more people the best possible chance should the unthinkable happen.

“When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, every second counts, so having a publicly accessible defibrillator nearby can make all the difference.”

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