INSPIRATEES

Bill tops ninth annual ‘ most inspiring ’ poll for second time

Full results of the ninth annual Tees Business poll of businesspeople to reveal the InspiraTees – the region ’ s “ most inspiring ” business leaders .

Dr Bill Scott OBE DL

Wilton Universal Group

Just the Bill - table-topper Bill Scott with his InsipraTees trophy and certificate .

Since the poll ’ s inauguration , the Middlesbrough-born businessman has placed third , first , second , fourth , third , fourth , second , second and first .

Asked about topping the poll this time around , Bill told Tees Business : “ I ’ m humbled by it . And I really appreciate the support of the whole of the Teesside business community .

“ It ’ s really fantastic when your peers appreciate what you ’ re trying to achieve . But it ’ s not about me . I couldn ’ t do what I do without my fantastic team .

“ And everyone in that room are winners . They ’ re all leading their businesses , doing great things for our region .”

A popular voice when it comes to talking up Teesside and a trustee of

“ It ’ s really fantastic when your peers appreciate what you ’ re trying to achieve . But it ’ s not about me . I couldn ’ t do what I do without my fantastic team .”

The Teesside Charity , Bill was born in a terraced house in central Middlesbrough . Having started out as an apprentice plater , he was put in charge of a team of men by the age of 19 and founded Wilton Engineering with business partner Steve Glenn three decades ago .

The hugely respected CEO now runs a 112-acre industrial site alongside the River Tees in Port Clarence , close to the landmark Transporter Bridge , featuring six quays , numerous sizeable buildings and four slipways once part of the region ’ s shipbuilding heritage .

Bill has proved to be a master of reinvention , bouncing back from several business slumps .

Now Wilton is thriving again , employing 350 staff who design , project-manage , fabricate , construct , shot blast , paint and load out huge and complicated steel structures for the subsea , oil and gas , marine , offshore wind and defence industries .

Describing his staff as “ heroes ”, Bill ’ s firm has built the world ’ s largest subsea plough , the world ’ s largest pipe-laying system and the UK ’ s largest compression module for use in the North Sea .

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