Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business Issue 43 | Seite 27

The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 27
Long serving – plater and welder Wayne Clarke with
Finley Structures founder John Finley and the firm’s
current managing director Julie Raistrick.
STRONG FUTURE
Steel firm enjoys record order book as it approaches 20th birthday
F
inley Structures goes into 2020 with a
record order book, after a record year
of sales – and with its 20th birthday to
look forward to later this year.
The phenomenal success story of the
family-run steel firm continues into another
new year after Finley recorded a record
£17.6m turnover in 2019.
And the firm’s order book is better than
ever, with an unprecedented volume of work
involving more than 8,000 tonnes of steel for
clients BAM, Bowmer & Kirkland, Galliford
Try, Kier, Tolent Construction and Sir Robert
McAlpine.
The contracts involve a number of exciting
new local developments. On one side of the
River Wear, Finley Structures is supplying
1,000 tonnes of steel for Kier Construction
to build Durham County Council’s new
headquarters.
Across the water, 3,200 tonnes of Finley
steel will enable Tolent to construct the
Milburngate development, featuring offices,
apartments, bars, restaurants, cinema and
hotel.
It follows Finley working on the
1,100-tonne Riverwalk retail and
entertainment complex, and it all adds up to
the company playing a pivotal role in what
county council chief executive Terry Collins
has described as a “game-changing” period
in Durham’s history.
Managing director Julie Raistrick said:
“While we win work all over the UK, we do
love to work on local projects.
“The Durham city work, in particular,
is something we’re very proud of, as it’s
leaving a generational footprint on the city.”
“The fact we’ve not only
survived but thrived in such a
volatile industry is testament to
John, the family and our hard-
working, dedicated staff.”
Finley Structures is also working on
several other high-profile contracts, with the
firm’s order book almost at capacity until the
autumn.
“This is very unusual as, traditionally, we
are usually only able to forecast three-to-six
months in advance,” says Julie.
“So, it goes without saying, we’re
delighted with this positive start to the year.”
Finley Structures will mark its 20th
birthday later in 2020 with a big celebration
at its 87,000 sq ft site on Aycliffe Business
Park, which is home to some of the latest
technology in steel fabrication.
“It’s a special time for the company, as we
approach our 20th anniversary,” says Julie.
“The business was formed by my father
in 2000. Perhaps even he might not have
envisaged at the time – when he acquired
our site from British Steel – that we’d grow
into the company we’re so very proud of
today.
“The fact we’ve not only survived
but thrived in such a volatile industry is
testament to John, the family and our hard-
working, dedicated staff.”
There is one employee who will remember
the early days – plater and welder Wayne
Clarke, who has been with the company
from day one.
“I’ve seen a lot of changes over the years
at Finley Structures, but it’s always been a
great place to work,” says Wayne.
“I’ve always got on very well with
everyone on the shop floor and the
management have always been good to
work for. I enjoy working with the people
here, it has always had a family feel to it and
I think that’s why the business has done so
well.”
Julie added: “Our 20th anniversary is a
milestone we can all be incredibly proud of,
and one that should be celebrated.”