NEWS
IN THE SAFEST HANDS
Proud - Tees Fire Systems managing director David Hynes says his firm is delighted to be working on landmark local projects such as Boho X .
Tees Fire Systems is making sure landmark Tees office development Boho X is safe as houses
PICTURE : TOM BANKS WORDS : PHILIP TALLENTIRE
Boho X boasts a bold , brave design that will transform the Middlesbrough skyline .
And as construction continues in Middlehaven , a thriving Teesside firm has now started work installing the building ’ s critical fire safety and security system . It ’ s turning out to be a memorable year for Tees Fire Systems ( TFS ). For in addition to winning the prestigious Boho X contract , it also has another couple of major projects in the pipeline , as well as plans to recruit new members of staff in the coming weeks .
“ Boho X is a flagship project for the town and we ’ re delighted to be on board ,” said TFS managing director David Hynes .
“ We ’ re very proud to be involved . We are always delighted to be a part of a major project on Teesside .
“ We do have a lot of competition from companies from outside the area , so we are always pleased when we win a contract for a development in our own region .
“ Right from the start of the Boho X project , local expertise has been involved . The architects are from Teesside , the consultants are Teesside-based and we ’ re working on it as well .”
Boho X ’ s eye-catching , radical design will incorporate 20,000 sq m of office space and continue the transformation of Middlehaven from a post-industrial brownfield past into a 21st century hub of technical innovation and visionary architectural design .
TFS is based nearby at Riverside Park and has been an integral part of the Boho X project from the early days of the project .
David said : “ We ’ ve been working with consultants as the design has evolved and will continue our involvement right through to the final hand over later this year .
“ It ’ s going to be a massive building for Middlesbrough and it ’ s great that projects like this are coming along .”
Kevin Hynes founded TFS and his son David , who had been operations manager , took over as managing director just before the Covid pandemic in 2020 , allowing his dad to take a back seat .
The ambitious company carries out maintenance and installation work on projects both large and small .
“ We install alarms , AOVs ( automatic opening vents ), fire safety systems and disabled refuges ,” said David .
“ Our security systems include CCTV , intruder alarms and access control systems .
“ We work across the fire and security sector and recent projects include a major contract at Teesside Airport and another at a hospital in the region .”
The Hynes family hail from Linthorpe and a long-standing company policy is to invest in Teesside talent .
Up to eight TFS engineers are currently working at Boho X , in addition to its supervisors and estimators .
“ We ’ ve been involved for about a year so far ,” said David . “ It ’ s a good-sized project and it ’ s on our doorstep .
“ We ’ ve got an order book that will keep our current staff busy until early next year and beyond . We ’ ve got another couple of orders coming in and we are taking on more members of staff as well .
“ Two apprentices have just passed their apprenticeships , so that ’ s great news .
“ We typically recruit apprentices around September time and this year we will be looking for at least six more apprentices . We ’ re also taking on a business development manager and an estimator .” TFS aims to recruit sixth form college leavers with the relevant GCSE grades for its apprenticeships , which are specialised fire and security qualifications .
The training is delivered through Redcar and Cleveland College ’ s Etc . ( Education Training Collective ) programme .
To find out more about TFS , visit teesfire . co . uk . The voice of business in the Tees region | 97