Tees Business Tees Business issue 17 | Page 37

Serving the Teesside Business Community | 37 Taking business to new heights Rope access and NDT in progress by the IMS team. Teesside-based company Inspection and Maintenance Services Ltd (IMS) is about to take its business to the next level. A fter a 12-year career as a rope access technician specialising in non- destructive testing (NDT), Anthony Kirwan founded IMS in 2016 to offer his expertise to businesses across the country. Now, after finishing up his latest stint working above the North Sea, he’s set for 2019 to be the company’s best year yet. Using rope access techniques and state- of-the-art drone technology, IMS undertakes inspection and NDT, in conjunction with its trusted partner Tees Valley Inspection. NDT is the process of inspecting or evaluating the properties of materials, components or assemblies to detect flaws without compromising integrity. Initial drone surveys plus the necessary follow-up remedial work form part of IMS’s bespoke package which they have been delivering predominantly in the commercial and public sectors. This has been recognised as an ‘external health check’ to clients’ premises and infrastructures. By utilising rope access systems and temporary exclusion zones, the company is able to deliver its services with minimum disruption to business operations. These essential services help with regulatory, CDM and planned preventative maintenance requirements. With assistance from Tees Valley Business Compass, IMS has recently invested in additional advanced equipment, branding and a newly developed website which is scheduled to launch in the coming weeks. The company has also welcomed Anthony Harker on board as technical manager, who brings with him 14 years of expertise in rope access and inspection, and a proven track record of managing projects for blue-chip companies abroad. Anthony is confident the pair’s combined 26 years’ experience will help IMS go from strength to strength. Already putting their expertise to good use, they are in the advanced stages of gaining relevant ISO accreditations and converted IRATA Membership, both of which will be a massive benefit to supplying services in the future. “Both Anthony and I have been there and done it when it comes to rope access and non-destructive testing. We’ve both travelled the world, working for global oil, gas and engineering corporations,” he said. “We are well thought of in the industry with proven credentials thanks to the work we’ve done and the connections we’ve made over the years - I think this will see IMS thrive.” Rope access, inspection, maintenance and drone services are typically supplied separately across all the relevant sectors. Anthony believes that a comprehensive service combining each of these specialities is something that will benefit clients. “You hear the term ‘all-in-one solution’ a lot in business, but it’s something that sets us apart. “There aren’t many companies in the UK that offer the services we provide as a complete package. “To clients, it means them only having to deal with us, rather than spending time and resources employing several different High hopes - IMS managing director Anthony Kirwan. contractors.” It’s been a strong start to 2019 for IMS, having secured a number of commercial and public sector contracts, including a partnership with Port Clarence-based Tees Valley Inspection to provide inspection and NDT, rope access and drone services for the petrochemical, oil and gas and marine sectors. The company is set to build on this by expanding its team to become a trusted name in the industrial, commercial and public sectors. “I’m delighted to have been able to hit the ground running,” said Anthony. “This is an industry where success is determined by the quality of the work. By going above and beyond and being proactive to help clients solve their problems, I look forward to growing the company in 2019 and beyond.” For more details on IMS and its services, visit imservices.co.uk or email [email protected].