Aycliffe Today Business PNE1578_AycliffeTodayBusiness_Issue28_WEBhighres | Page 22

22 | Aycliffe Today Business
Finley Structures managing directors John Finley
and Julie Raistrick on the fabrication shop inside
the firm’s premises on Aycliffe Business Park.
Made in
Aycliffe
A Computer
Generated Image
(CGI) of the new
Hull Venue, which is
being constructed
by Finley
Structures.
Strong start to 2017 for steel firm
Steel firm Finley Structures is on course for another strong financial year after winning a raft of major
projects across the country, with 2016-17 turnover expected to exceed £16m. Aycliffe Today editor
Martin Walker reviews another positive 12 months for the family-run business...
Finley Structures has been awarded a
prestigious contract to help build a new
£36m entertainment venue in Hull – one of
many high-profile jobs the first has won in
recent months.
The steel firm has been handed a
960-tonne project to fabricate and erect the
steel frame for Hull Venue, on behalf of main
contractor Bam Construction.
Hull Venue is a state-of-the-art, music and
events complex with up to 3,500 seats that
will enable the city to attract large corporate
conferences, exhibitions and trade tours as
well as major touring concerts, stand-up
comedy, family shows and sporting events.
As well as fabricating and erecting the
steel for the multi-use complex, Finley
Structures is also installing pre-cast concrete
stairs, lift shafts and terrace units as part of
the project.
The Aycliffe firm is already on site in Hull,
while working on another redevelopment
project closer to home in Durham city, on the
multi-million pound Riverwalk development.
“This is another phoenix from the flames
type of project,” said Finley Structures
operations manager Jim Graham.
“There’s a lot of redevelopment going on
in Hull at the moment, as part of its 2017 City
of Culture programme, and it’s another good
example of how we’re helping to transform
an old site into a state-of-the-art venue.”
The Hull Venue contract is one of several
major projects won by Finley Structures in
the first part of 2017, which is expected to
push the firm’s annual sales beyond the
£16m mark.
They also include a 283-tonne project
to build a new Hilton Hotel in Lincoln for
main contractor Manorcrest, a 300-tonne
warehouse in Leicester for A&H Construction
and a 614-tonne project for Carillion
Construction in Sunderland.
The education sector has also been
a significant area of growth for Finley
Structures in the last 12 months.
Recent projects have included Roundhay
School in Leeds for Interserve Construction,
Ryde Academy on the Isle of Wight for Sir
Robert McAlpine, Doncaster Sixth Form
College for BAM Construction, George
Mitchell School in London for Bowmer and
Kirkland, and SEMH School in Seacroft, East
Leeds, also for Interserve.
Finley Structures has also completed a
337-tonne project for Bowmer and Kirkland,
to fabricate and erect Avanti School in
Stanmore, London, and has also won a third
contract with Interserve for another school,
this time the SEMH School in South Leeds,
which is already on site.
Graham added: “It has already been
a hugely positive start to 2017 for Finley
Structures which also gives us a strong start
to the new financial year from April.
“We’re hoping to secure a lot more work
in the coming months to further boost our
order book for the year ahead.”