Tek team - TekGroup ’ s production manager Andrew Hutchinson ( centre ) , production supervisor Lee Jones ( right ) and operative Niall Cooke ( left ).
TEKTHAT
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON PICTURE : MARTIN WALKER
New home for thriving Tees firm
A
Teesside firm ’ s continuing success story has begun a bold new chapter with a move into impressive new premises .
Having seen turnover increase eightfold in the past three years , the Tek group of companies has now moved into a 30,000 sq ft factory and offices in Middlesbrough .
The relocation is to allow the manufacturing arm of the group to expand – and is confirmation of a remarkable first few years in business .
TekBuild began life in 2017 as a Billingham-based 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 Londonbased 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 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 decided to expand the group to include three other companies : TekConstruct , TekFrame and TekDesign .
TekConstruct is the specialist subcontractor arm and offers a full holistic package for load-bearing , light gauge and hot rolled steel structures , including engineering , design , supply and install from concept to completion .
Specialist subcontractor TekFrame also offers those services , but specialises in portal buildings for commercial , industrial , or agricultural use , with combined or freestanding mezzanine floors also under its remit .
TekDesign , meanwhile , provides a complete engineering and design service for all types of steel structure , utilising the latest BIM modelling software to create and deliver from concept to design .
It means the group offers a comprehensive service “ straight from tender ” to putting the final screw in the frame on site .
And to offer such a service , it has had to grow – and how .
TekBuild began with two people in its Belasis Court , Billingham , office and 15 to 20 people on site . This soon grew to 10 in the office and up to 50 out on site , along with manufacturing spread across three local factories .
However , the new Middlesbrough premises will allow the expansion to include a further 10 staff in the offices , 18 in the factory and a further 20 on site .
But just as importantly , it will all be run from one central location in Middlesbrough .
It ’ s a true Teesside success story , with all the group ’ s staff living within 20 miles of the company ’ s Teesside headquarters .
The order book continues to grow too , with the group involved in several recent and new projects on Teesside . These include the recently completed Mo Mowlam School in Redcar , a further Academy in Middlesbrough , and two student accommodation schemes in Middlesbrough , including a 10-storey block on Borough Road that is now under construction .
The firm continues to work nationwide , having completed two large structures for the Hull
NHS Trust as part of the Covid response initiative . Projects in London and across the UK are also being worked on .
And with TekConstruct also engineering , designing , manufacturing and constructing structures ranging from two or three storey houses to commercial , residential , retail or education - the full range - it is also working on three huge private residential schemes for well-known sports people and TV celebrities .
So 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 .
Commenting on the new factory and offices , MD Andy Scholes said : “ It has allowed the group to complete two key initiatives in our next phase of business development and growth .
“ Firstly , to continue the group expansion in line with the planned business model , we needed a space that would allow us to accommodate this growth , while also giving us further space to continue the expansion .
“ And secondly , it has allowed us , as a group , to bring all our companies under one roof .”
Director Paul Hutchinson added : “ Not only is the growth of the group of companies a great achievement for all of our team , but it makes me incredibly proud for us to be able to offer more and more employment for people in the local community where I was brought up and live .”
Visit tekbuildlimited . co . uk
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