Cell Pack Solutions

Set up over 20 years ago, Cell Pack Solutions designs and delivers the highest standard custom battery packs.

From its factory in West Walpole Street, South Shields, the business has developed over 3,000 unique battery pack designs which have endured some of the world’s harshest conditions.

And, from early 2021, a national success became an international one. The acquisition of Tracer Power saw it begin exporting for the first time. It now sells to 32 countries – a fact that saw it win this year’s Insider Media’s Export Award.

Since setting up Cell Pack Solutions two decades ago, Eddie Czestochowski’s ethos has always been “growth through innovation, great service and investment in our people”. Today, around 30 staff help meet the needs of over 1,500 customers and Cell Pack Solutions continues to expand its workforce. It is currently looking to recruit local apprentices.

For Eddie, adding their name to the South Tyneside pledge reflects the pride he has always had in the area.

Eddie explains:

“South Tyneside is a special place you know? There’s just a feeling about the area. We could never ever move from here when we’ve enjoyed so much kindness and support over the years. We’ve had tremendous help from the council over the years and we will continue to do our bit to pay that back.”

Cell Pack Solutions “gives back” in various forms – from taking part in the Relay for Life at the Monkton Stadium to teaming up with local school pupils as part of Children North East’s Sandcastle Challenge. The business also sends representatives to local schools to talk to children about career choices and offers summer holiday work experience jobs to ambitious students.

But, for Eddie, there’s also a non-work passion that stands out. He is a keen chess player and hosts a Chess For All drop-in club at The Word Central Library, with other members of the South Shields Chess Club, between 10 am and 12 pm each Saturday. This voluntary commitment has been running now for over four years with great success.”

He adds:

“Chess taught me a lot in my early school years. That helped me build the company I have today in many ways. There are so many lessons that kids can take from chess without even realising they’re learning. One of my favourites is you must develop all your pieces – just like your team – to gain full advantage.

“I played a lot when I was young and then picked it up again later in life – but I realised so many of the strategies I’d used in business were a direct result of playing chess in those formative years. It’s also wonderful to watch people go from absolute novices to at least a simple understanding of this game, particularly when they’ve said they could never learn such a complex game”

Now, with the Saturday club proving such a hit, a Tuesday Morning club has been added. Eddie is especially keen to keep the boards open to young and old alike, as both benefit from the game.

Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council and Chair of South Tyneside Partnership said:

“Eddie lives the South Tyneside Pledge and he is a tremendous ambassador for the area – especially when you consider the reach of Cell Pack Solutions. His passion for his employees, his products and his customers is perhaps only matched by the satisfaction he clearly gets from the business’ community work.

“For Eddie, teaching chess is teaching strategy and development. They are the skills behind his success, and he wants to be able to share them with as many people as he can.”

Organisations, public and private, big businesses and small firms, can sign up at any time and become part of the Pledge South Tyneside network at www.southtyneside.gov.uk