NEWS
Strength - the Tekbuild team have ambitious plans .
Building on steel expertise
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON PICTURE : TOM BANKS
How TekBuild has expanded to offer holistic building solutions
A
thriving Teesside firm is “ steeling ” itself for more success after going from strength to strength in its first four years in business .
Billingham-based TekBuild began life in 2017 as a subcontract , steel installation business .
It was founded by director Paul Hutchinson , who used to work on the shopfloor , rolling the steel . Paul progressed his career to management level , working for a London-based firm , but saw a gap in the market for a nationwide installation company .
In 2020 , Paul brought in Andy Scholes as managing director . Andy has vast experience and has held various senior management and director-level roles with steel companies across the UK , Ireland and abroad .
Seeing substantial growth on the installation business , the two directors have now expanded the Tek group to include three other companies to offer further services to the construction industry : TekConstruct , TekFrame and TekDesign .
TekConstruct is the specialist subcontractor arm of the group and offers the full holistic package for load-bearing , light gauge and hot rolled steel structures including engineering , design , supply and install , supplying the full structural build from concept to completion .
TekFrame is also a specialist subcontractor offering all the above , but specialising in portal buildings for
56 | Tees Business commercial , industrial or agricultural use , with combined or free-standing mezzanine floors also under its remit .
TekDesign , meanwhile , provides a complete engineering and design service for all types of steel structure , using the latest BIM modelling software to design and deliver from concept to design for manufacturing .
Business development manager Anthony Pepper says : “ We do literally ‘ straight from tender ’ to putting the final screw in the frame on site , so we take care of the full package now .
“ When we solely installed for our clients , they started asking us to contract for them because they didn ’ t want that extra headache . But we ’ ll happily take that on too .”
Two years ago , TekBuild had a couple of people in its Belasis Court office and 15 to 20 people on site .
Now , there are 10 in the office and up to 50 out on site , all local people who live within 20 miles of the company ’ s headquarters on Teesside .
The firm currently builds frames in three factories across the north but is due to consolidate and move all operations into one new factory and office premises in Middlesbrough , again employing local people and creating more local jobs .
And the order book continues to grow , with several recent and new projects on Teesside . These include the new Mo Mowlam Special School in Redcar , a further academy in Middlesbrough and a student accommodation block in Middlesbrough –
“ It ’ s 10 storeys so you ’ ll definitely see it ,” smiles Anthony .
Along with local work , the team continues to work nationwide and is currently building two large structures for the Hull NHS Trust as part of the Covid response initiative , along with projects in London and across the UK .
Anthony adds : “ We do anything from two or three-storey houses to commercial , residential , retail or education – the full range .
“ But throughout it all , we ’ re keen to stress we ’ re a Teesside-based company that ’ s doing well and expanding , bringing local jobs to local people .”
With more than six decades of collective experience in the workforce , TekBuild is in a good place to build on its reputation of being one of the UK ’ s foremost steel frame specialists .
And the service it provides has been attracting plaudits , with 2411 Group director Tim Walker calling TekBuild “ professional , experienced and knowledgeable ”.
And Martin Jamieson , commercial and technical director at FrameClad , adds : “ We have a longstanding relationship with TekBuild both as a customer and client . We work closely with them and value their expertise and professionalism .
“ As one of our preferred load-bearing installers , TekBuild are a company that we regularly recommend to our client base – like ourselves , they have and deliver services of the highest standards .”
Visit tekbuildlimited . co . uk