INDUSTRY
Mike Marsh says Group Industrial will have a team of up to 20 preserving the power station at any one time .
“ We maintain the equipment , check valves , look at pipework , that sort of thing . We clean , we lubricate , we get the pipes ready for winter ... basically we preserve it in a good condition for a future buyer .
“ And it ’ s using a lot of the skills we already have , just in a slightly different way . “
Group International usually has between ten and 20 people on site at any one time . And while the work is generally five days a week , a call-out team is available at any time for that , or any of the firm ’ s projects .
Mike adds : “ We ’ re a reactive company . And during Covid , we ’ ve continued to work through it and actually make progress .”
It ’ s been a rapid rise for Group Industrial - established by Middlesbrough-born Mike in 2017 .
Recognising a need for workers and industrial services , former steelworker Mike ’ s knowledge of industry and the skill sets required has helped the firm grow .
It usually has around 100 workers on its books but that can increase , depending on the projects being worked on .
Building surveyor Paul Ryder is the latest appointment to the team , based at Dinsdale House on the Riverside Industrial Estate , Middlesbrough .
And given its position by the River Tees at Dawson ’ s Wharf , there ’ s another , very appropriate sector the firm is also now targeting - shipping .
Jim Rush , of the firm ’ s sales and marketing team , said : “ We ’ ve started doing some repair and maintenance work on the Tees for shipping companies .
“ The services we provide are quite diverse but transfer over to ships very well .
“ We ’ re on the river , so we ’ re quite close to what ’ s going on down there .
“ Ships come in for general repair and we concentrate on things like scaffolding and insulation - the standard services we provide , but in a shipyard or dock setting .”
Tasks have also included helping Lloyds Insurance officials with their inspection work on lifeboat launch pads .
“ During Covid , a lot of shipping companies have kept their dockside time to a minimum ,” adds Jim . “ They ’ ve had their engineers on their ships out at sea , doing the basics , but they ’ ve restricted their time in dock .
“ But as restrictions relax , we expect to see more activity in the docks because there ’ ll be essential maintenance that needs carrying out .”
But whether land or sea-focused , Group International aims to more than keep its head above water in competitive markets - and the signs are very good so far .
Mike , who recently celebrated his 40th birthday , said : “ We are growing with our current clients , but we are always interested in moving into different sectors .
“ We understand each sector works in different ways . There ’ s a lot to learn , but it ’ s all part of growing as a company .
“ We ’ ve always progressed and worked hard so , from where we started three years ago , we ’ re probably more advanced than I thought we ’ d be at this stage . Turnover ’ s growing , everything ’ s growing really .
“ But for now , the idea is to remain sustainable , be flexible , continue to grow and continue to be good at what we do .”
Group get their community kicks
It ’ s a scene played out across
Teesside every weekend - junior footballers enjoying the game while parents cheer on from the sidelines .
And as a firm which prides itself on being local , Group Industrial has decided to get in on the action .
This season , Marton Whites Under 13s will be playing in home and away strips sponsored by Mike Marsh ’ s firm .
And for Mike , it was a natural “ fit ” - given that his brother-inlaw is a coach at the Hall Drive , Middlesbrough , club and his boys have enjoyed Marton Saturday soccer school sessions .
Mike says : “ I ’ ve got a family connection with the club and I just thought it would be good to support something which means a lot to our people .
“ A lot of our lads work for us all week and then on the weekends , they ’ ll be supporting their sons and daughters from the touchline .
“ We ’ re a local company with a local workforce and this is just a small way we can give something back .”
The voice of business in the Tees region | 91