Group together - Mike Marsh ( right ) of Group Industrial with Jamie Brown of Francis Brown .
UNITY IS
STRENGTH
How Group Industrial is working with fellow Tees SMEs to win big
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON PICTURES : CHRIS BOOTH
The boss of an industrial services firm says he ’ s excited to be part of a new Tees business alliance .
Teamwork makes the dream work , they say , and a new alliance of Teesside-based small and medium-sized businesses , TeesSMEs , aims to prove it .
It brings together 10 Teesside companies which , by banding together , have the capability and capacity to deliver major projects and offer a viable alternative to major national contractors who often rely on transient workers and global supply chains .
And one of its members , Middlesbrough-based Group Industrial , is delighted to be part of it .
MD Mike Marsh told Tees Business : “ The principle is we go in and collectively put our case forward as a group of SMEs who work together , rather than a group of individuals . You can easily be overlooked if you ’ re on your own .
“ But by teaming up in this way , with all the skills we can offer , we can assist with everything you ’ ll need . It gives us more bargaining power and sticks to the principle of keeping local .
“ Things like the Teesworks site and the freeport are going to bring a lot of work to the region . And because we ’ re based at Dawson ’ s Wharf , in the Port of Middlesbrough , we ’ re ideally placed to be involved .”
Mike continues to be encouraged by Group Industrial ’ s progress , especially after a Covid-ravaged year .
He said : “ We ’ re continuing to grow in the right areas . We ’ ve concentrated on our main sectors - waste energy , biomass , shipping and chemicals - but we always keep our options open to develop and grow .
“ I ’ m happy we ’ ve come through Covid and kept strong relationships with our clients . And we ’ re meeting a lot more blue chip customers .
“ During a very restricted year , the brakes will have been put on some projects . But as this year progresses , I
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