ENGINEERING
We class our workforce and staff alike as heroes who produce some of the highest quality design , manufacturing , logistics , blasting and painting .”
who joined Wilton as a 16-year-old apprentice plater and is now the firm ’ s head of construction , having managed and delivered numerous large , complicated projects .
Bill and Steve had set up their fledgling company at a time of recession when confidence was low , but Wilton cut through such challenges to quickly build a reputation for high quality , on-time delivery .
By 1999 , Wilton was growing at pace and building things of such size that “ we couldn ’ t find a reputable blasting and painting company with the quality standards needed ”. Undeterred , they set up a second business , Universal Coatings .
Determined to bring in “ the best person possible ” to manage the new company , they enlisted the talent and experience of Paul Johnson , who became an integral part of Universal Coatings and , says Bill , “ our best friend .” Paul successfully steered the firm for 23 years before losing a long battle with cancer last year .
The year 2000 saw the Wilton Group ’ s present day managing director and shareholder Steven Pearson join the business as a then 30-year-old qualified mechanical welding engineer and European welding engineer .
Bill recalls : “ During his interview , we knew Steven was destined to become an absolute key part for the future of the company . He is amazingly calm person who always has the best interests of the group at heart – including our employees , suppliers , clients and the site .”
The “ site ” Bill refers to is 112 acres of industrial land adjacent to the River Tees in Port Clarence , close to the landmark Transporter Bridge , featuring six quays , four slipways historically used for launching ships and numerous sizeable buildings .
“ It ’ s incredible to think back to our early days and then fast forwarding to where our businesses are now and considering what ’ s not been so good , what ’ s been good and what ’ s been outstandingly good ,” reflects Bill .
Thank you – Wilton Engineering CEO Dr Bill Scott OBE .
“ Through those 30 years we have overcome huge challenges to succeed and continue to grow the business , manufacturing some truly world-firsts . Some of the Wilton Group ’ s proudest achievements include : > Building the world ’ s largest subsea plough .
> Building the world ’ s largest pipelaying system , which has gone on to lay more pipe globally than any other .
> Building the UK ’ s largest compression module for use in the North Sea .
> Voted best in class for transition pieces , ginormous tubular steel structures that form key parts of offshore wind farms . > UK top 100 for growth . > UK top 100 for exports . > Fastest growing North-East company in both 2011 and 2012 . Bill says : “ We class our workforce and staff alike as heroes who produce some of the highest quality design , manufacturing , logistics , blasting and painting while conforming to all the associated health and safety , quality and documentation to satisfy the many markets we ’ ve been involved with .
“ Our dedicated senior management team and their support structure within accounts , health and safety , quality , documentation , maintenance , logistics and security are simply amazing .”
Wilton is currently supporting the defence sector to assist with the sustainability of its Continuous At Sea Deterrent ( CASD ). In doing so , the firm is building its capability and ensuring it has the tradesmen and engineers for the future by creating many apprenticeships within its own skills academy .
Now Bill is looking forward to marking Wilton ’ s 30th anniversary and 25 years of Universal Coatings with a family fun day for past and present employees , their families , suppliers and clients .
“ We are very much looking forward to celebrating both anniversaries ,” says Bill , with understandable pride . “ We ’ d like to say a huge thank you for all they have done over the years . “ In our eyes , you are simply heroes .”
The voice of business in the Tees region | 45