INDUSTRY
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON PICTURE : TOM BANKS
READY FOR LIFT- OFF
A
rigging and erecting specialist is braced for a busy 2021 – especially because there ’ s so much for industry to catch up on after Covid .
With the country slowly emerging from lockdown , Teesside Rigging & Lifting MD Steve Smith feels his company is in good shape to respond .
For not only are exciting developments in store , he believes it could be a busy year generally , with all sorts of projects opening up again .
Founded in 2008 , the firm – based at Stockton ’ s North Tees Industrial Estate – covers all aspects of steel erecting , rigging , lifting and site services for projects here and abroad .
Along with its acclaimed 6,500 sq ft training centre , it is also a UK leader in offering industry-recognised training courses and accreditations – although much of that slowed around this time last year as the industry came to terms with the Covid-19 situation .
Steve told Tees Business : “ It was quite a learning curve , operating through a pandemic . A lot of the training was reduced and put back , while we had a lot of staff working from home .
“ It was a case of adapting and trying to see what work we could still do while operating under all the restrictions and guidelines .
“ We put in all the relevant safety procedures and stopped the training until we could ensure the safety of our staff and clients , and the guidelines started to be eased . Our critical workers on-site also went through similar processes .
“ The HSE manager worked tirelessly to develop a Covid working plan , which along with our clients ’ HSE teams allowed us to still have a presence on-site to meet our clients ’ requirements .”
But never a firm to stand still , TRL is now poised to take full advantage when business fully opens again – and has exciting plans of its own .
Steve explained : “ We ’ re adding a new
Rigged up – Teesside Rigging & Lifting , based at Stockton ’ s North Tees Industrial Estate , covers all aspects of steel erecting , rigging , lifting and site services for projects here and abroad .
staff member to work alongside the experienced team of instructors at our North Tees training centre .”
TRL is also celebrating becoming an end-point assessment centre for apprenticeships .
“ Apprentices will come to us from throughout the industry to be assessed and signed off . We have just been approved for this and we are one of the only centres In the UK that has the facility to do this .
“ One of our passions is making sure apprentices are brought into the industry and have more work opportunities . With the upsurge in projects like Sizewell , Hinkley Point C and HS2 , plus what is happening around here in Teesside , it ’ s an ideal time to be getting apprentices qualified and ensuring we ’ re keeping the engineering skills we ’ ve become famous for in this region .
“ We are at a critical point in this industry now . Over the last 10 to 20 years there has been a steady decline in proper apprenticeships and improverships and , in my opinion , we will be very soon experiencing a shortage of skilled and experienced workers .
“ Along with the situation with Brexit and the additional restrictions this will have on European workers working in the UK , this is now presenting a golden opportunity to invest in our own industries and it ’ s critical that we invest in a new generation of trades and get young lads and lasses into our industry .
“ I ’ d say that over the next few months there will be a demand for skilled and experienced trades for on-site work – structural steel , fabrication and refurbishment works – but both sides of the business are likely to be busy from now on .
“ As the vaccination is rolled out , projects that have been suspended or stopped will need to resume .
“ Not only will companies and clients be trying to catch up , but they ’ ll also have an eye on completing work in case there ’ s another semi-lockdown as winter approaches .
“ I ’ m sure it ’ s going to be a busy year , with a big upsurge in requirements for work both onshore and offshore – and we ’ re ready for it .”
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