STOCKTON-ON-TEES
Training – Wilton Universal Group CEO Bill Scott , third left , with some of the firm ’ s apprentices .
WELL-PLACED FOR A
BRIGHT FUTURE
Wilton Universal Group could barely be sited in a more appropriate place , sitting alongside the River Tees and Transporter Bridge – the imposing steel structure that has been the icon of Middlesbrough since 1902 .
When asked what the group does , its CEO , Bill Scott OBE DL , says : “ That ’ s easy – we design , project-manage , fabricate , construct , shot blast , paint and load out very large , complicated steel structures for the subsea , offshore oil and gas , marine , offshore wind and , latterly , the defence industries .
“ I recall Sir Michael Fallon asking what our USP was and that ’ s really easy too - we don ’ t deliver by road !”
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 once again .
Wilton Universal Group , with a 350-strong workforce , has secured major contracts to supply the defence sector and is looking seriously at opportunities within the Offshore Floating Wind sector ( FLOW ) – assisting with the design and manufacture of the mega structures .
Operational sensitivities mean the defence contract can ’ t be discussed in any detail . But it ’ s testament to Wilton Universal Group ’ s skilled workforce , flexibility and resilience that it ’ s been entrusted with building such significant structures .
There are also significant opportunities working with companies looking to set up on the 4,500-acre Teesworks site – once
‘ It ’ s all about the next generation ,' says Wilton Group boss
home to the Redcar steelworks . Over the past 18 months , the company has bought a shipyard adjoining its existing boundary , extending the facility to 110 acres with six loadout quays , four slipways , seven large fabrication halls , five large shotblast and painting halls and four storage halls , along with vast amounts of land which is managed through PC Logistics as external storage for any companies needing short to long term storage .
In addition , the company employs a further 100 people needed to manage longterm projects . This includes new staff at managerial level , along with 30 apprentices .
The company has significant opportunities underway and in the pipeline , offering stability and sustainability for the long-term .
To ensure these opportunities get the utmost attention , Wilton ’ s senior management team has increased to eight people , including a group ambassador , HR manager , QHSE manager , construction manager , head of projects , finance director , managing director and CEO .
Between them , they have a diverse portfolio of experience and with seven aged between 32-50 , they are the backbone of the future generation .
But with the future in mind , an apprentice training facility has been established , taking on 30 apprentices last year and on track to take the same number this year .
The youngest apprentices are 16 and the oldest is 32 – a mixture of experience and those who are completely new to engineering . The apprenticeships cover a multitude of skills covering platers and welders , planners , finance , blasting , painting , quantity surveyors and design engineers who will also go through their degree as part of the apprenticeship .
As well as apprenticeships , however , there ’ s a plethora of training offered and carried out by both the staff and workforce , with Wilton ’ s “ open door ” culture lending itself to a collaborative partnership with staff , workforce and clients .
Bill said : “ By growing our own at scale , we are creating a superpower of talent that will hopefully become key employees , supervisors , managers and possibly directors at some stage in their careers as part of our next generation .
“ We are really pleased to have Wilton Universal Group within ‘ This Is Tees Valley ’, showcasing what we have achieved since the last edition and more importantly , what we are doing right now to ensure there is going to be a bright future .”
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