STOCKTON-ON-TEES
ENGINEERING
FUTURES
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON PICTURE : TOM BANKS
Academy plan will help Wilton Universal Group invest in the next generation .
It ’ s a company that could barely be in a more appropriate place – sitting alongside the imposing Transporter Bridge . And it has a CEO with Teesside pulsing through his veins .
Bill Scott OBE began his career as an apprentice plater . But when he founded Wilton Engineering 28 years ago with business partner Steve Glenn , it heralded years of success making “ high-quality and complicated ” structures for the oil , gas and subsea sectors .
When the oil and gas market crashed in 2014 / 15 , the company set about reinventing itself – slimming down and shifting its focus to offshore wind . And now change is in the air again . Wilton Universal Group , with its 250-strong workforce on a 112-acre site by the River Tees , has secured major contracts to supply the defence sector in some exciting projects .
However , the company has an eye on the future , with plans for a Wilton Universal Academy to help talented apprentices make their way in the world of work .
And with the Tees Valley ’ s impressive industrial heritage , Bill says that ’ s how it should be .
He said : “ The people within the Tees Valley are hardworking , dedicated and skilful . That comes from our heritage – a heritage that dates from the 19th century . This site goes back to 1890 , so the bloodline is there for engineering .”
The Wilton Universal Academy , he says , will have three main components
– for trade apprenticeships , intermediate projects and degree apprenticeships for design engineers .
Having the foresight to plan for the future by backing new blood is typical of a firm that ’ s proved to be a master of adaptability and reinvention – no more so than during that 2014 / 15 oil and gas crash .
Bill recalled : “ We were one of the biggest fabricators in the country , building some of the most complicated things anywhere . But when the crash happened , we went fishing – fishing for contracts .
“ We thought , ‘ Who are we , what are we ?’ We worked out that we were just bloody good at what we did in terms of building large , complicated structures .
“ So if we could put the most technically demanding structure on the seabed , for example , or equipment that stands 85m high on the back of a ship , or we could build offshore oil rigs , we could build anything .
“ Offshore wind offered a quick solution , so we cut our teeth on a successful first job and other successes followed . But all the while , we were still looking at other options and that ’ s how the defence connection has come about .”
Operational sensitivities mean we can ’ t talk about the defence contract in any detail . But it ’ s testament to Wilton Universal Group ’ s flexibility and resilience that it ’ s been entrusted with it – and its determination to stick to the company tagline “ built right , on time , first time ”.
Bill said : “ Over the 28 years , we ’ ve seen highs and lows in terms of recessions and recoveries , but we ’ ve managed to pull ourselves through and get out the other side , whereas a lot of others haven ’ t .
“ Of course , challenges lie ahead . However , it ’ s all about having a positive mindset and planning for the future .”
And Bill believes the Tees Valley is perfectly placed to keep its industrial heritage going – especially with recent developments such as the Teesside Freeport and the redevelopment of the old steelworks site under the Teesworks banner .
He said : “ I ’ m passionate about Teesside . I ’ m from Middlesbrough and I just think that people in the north are hard-working and friendly . I also find Teesside a very collaborative area – together we get more done .
“ It ’ s a good place to live and work in . Just outside of Teesside we ’ ve got fantastic hills , while we ’ re only 10 minutes from the sea , or a few minutes from a good walk – it ’ s a great place to get the right work-life balance .”
In the pipeline – Wilton Universal Group CEO Bill Scott OBE plans to create an academy to help apprentices into the world of work .
Visit wiltonengineering . co . uk
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