Growing their own talent is key to success for Wilton Engineering and Azets
FINANCE
Trust – Wilton Engineering Group CEO Bill Scott OBE DL with Azets ’ tax partner Alastair Wilson .
PICTURE : TOM BANKS
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Growing their own talent is key to success for Wilton Engineering and Azets
Established in 1994 , Teesside business Wilton Engineering Services has achieved unparalleled success , specialising in designing , manufacturing , coating and loading out large , complicated structures for the offshore oil & gas , subsea , marine , defence , decommissioning and offshore wind industries .
Based adjacent to the River Tees on a 112-acre construction facility , it has some of the largest manufacturing halls in the UK , which are supported by equally impressive blasting , coating and loadout capabilities . That ’ s one of the reasons Wilton has become the go-to company for world class fabrications .
Investing in the next generation Wilton Engineering has taken on many apprentices over the past 30 years and is again committed to growing its own talent by adding to its current cohort of 35 . The company has set a target of employing a further 90 apprentices over the next three years within its new engineering apprenticeship scheme at the design and manufacturing facility . Its immersive , handson approach exposes the apprentices to real-world challenges and fosters practical skills . Additionally , one day each week is dedicated to study at Hartlepool College of Further Education for platers and welders , along with Teesside University for design engineers , further enhancing their theoretical knowledge by completing a Mechanical Engineering degree .
In 2022 , the company launched its Apprenticeship Academy , welcoming a cohort of 30 plating / welding apprentices ranging in age from 16 to 32 . It has
150 | Tees Business continued its apprentice intake during 2023 and will continue to do so , year on year .
Moreover , the company offered apprenticeship opportunities to existing employees seeking to upskill or retrain , providing a pathway for personal and professional growth .
Azets is also passionate about learning and development , having recently hired more than 400 graduates and school leavers UK-wide , across all service lines including audit and assurance , accounting and business advisory services , corporate finance , tax and restructuring .
Recently ranked 43rd in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2023 , Azets is also providing opportunities to students taking T Levels , the new intense technical vocational qualifications introduced by the government in 2020 .
Applications are open for early years careers opportunities for 2024 in Wynyard .
Azets are local , trusted business advisors As a local , trusted business advisor to Wilton Engineering , Azets provides audit , employment tax , R & D and M & A support to the company , with tax advice provided by tax partner Alastair Wilson . But it ’ s the bespoke specialist services relevant to their industry that have been most beneficial .
On the relationship with Azets , Wilton CEO Bill Scott OBE DL said : “ We have worked with Azets for all our tax advice for around 10 years .
“ Alastair Wilson and his team at Azets wholeheartedly understand the way our business works , which makes for better professional collaboration . They are very quick to respond , share professional advice , and will go that extra mile if something technical comes up which needs specialist advice within the complex and ever-evolving landscape of taxation . “ Being specialist tax advisors , they provide peace of mind and expert advice . Staying current with tax legislation and having the ability to customise to projectspecific requirements makes them an indispensable partner in the realms of financial planning .”
Alastair added : “ By bringing in our specialists from a range of service lines we have been able to support Wilton Engineering as their business has adapted to capitalise on opportunities in the renewable energy sector .
“ Over the years we have been able to work with the business to enable the shareholders to adapt to different and sometimes challenging circumstances . Part of the skill of our team has been to ensure the advice we have provided has been robust and flexible .”
As a business that operates from the substantial construction facility , that advice has included aspects such as property transactions , research & development tax reliefs and reorganisations of shareholdings . The breadth of the advice needed reflects the dynamic nature of the activities Wilton Engineering Services carries out .
Alastair concludes : “ As advisors , a key part of what we do is ensuring our strategic advice is appropriate for the long-term plans of the business and its shareholders and is not limited to annual statutory reporting or compliance .”