STOCKTON
HEROES ALL
Leading by example – Wilton Engineering CEO Bill Scott OBE DL is proud of the firm ’ s three decades in business .
Boss of thriving engineering company pays tribute to workforce – and says success is about more than size
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON PICTURE : TOM BANKS
It ’ s Teesside ’ s largest engineering company but Wilton Engineering ’ s CEO stresses its success is not all about size . Wilton Engineering and its sister company Denholm Universal – formerly Universal Coatings – occupy a 112-acre site at Port Clarence on the north bank of the River Tees , with seven quays used for docking seagoing vessels , 10 large fabrication halls , and five sizeable blasting and coating halls .
Formed on July 4 , 1994 , by Bill Scott OBE DL and business partner Steve Glenn , it ’ s been three decades of ups and downs , successes and challenges , and trials and tribulations .
But after 30 years of proudly flying the engineering flag for Teesside , Wilton is well-placed to keep bringing business to the banks of the Tees .
Bill and Steve both put their houses up as collateral to get their Wilton Engineering dream off the ground in 1994 .
Five years later , Wilton was growing at such a pace and building things of such size , it set up its own blasting and painting company , Universal Coatings , to ensure the highest standards .
Then and now , the companies ’ success stems from putting effort into all of the pillars of good business – health and safety , quality of people and product , planning , delivery , culture and creating partnerships with the clients and the local community , utilising the right ethics of honesty , openness and transparency .
As both companies celebrate their 30th
and 25th anniversaries respectively , CEO Bill Scott admits it ’ s been a memorable journey .
He said : “ Looking back on three decades of huge successes and significant challenges , I wouldn ’ t change a thing .
“ It ’ s incredible to think back to our early days and then fast forward to where our businesses are now .”
Saying that the companies ’ USP is “ we don ’ t deliver by road ,” Bill added : “ Getting the right intelligence of markets is vitally important as it allows you to take informed decisions sooner , enabling you to be fleet of foot , whether you need to increase your stakehold in a particular market or , in fact , get out .
“ But through those 30 years , we have manufactured some truly ‘ world firsts ’.”
Some of the two companies ’ proudest achievements include : > Building and coating the world ’ s largest subsea plough .
> Building and coating the world ’ s largest pipe-laying system , which has gone on to lay more pipe globally than any other .
> Building and coating the UK ’ s largest compression module for use in the North Sea .
> Voted best in class for transition pieces - huge tubular steel structures that form key parts of offshore wind farms .
> Being named in the UK ’ s top 100 for growth . > Being named in UK ’ s top 100 for exports . > Fastest growing North-East company in both 2011 and 2012 and fastest growing business in Teesside , 2023 . While he ’ ll always play it down , Bill has also picked up a clutch of awards for his own management style , including taking top spot in the 2024 annual Tees Business poll of the region ’ s most inspiring business leaders .
But for Bill , the people he employs are the heroes .
He said : “ We class our workforce and staff alike as heroes who produce some of the highest quality design , manufacturing , logistics , blasting and painting .
“ They do this while conforming to all the associated health and safety , quality , security , logistics , accounts and documentation to satisfy the many markets we ’ ve been involved with .
“ And our dedicated senior management team and their support structure 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 its future by creating many apprenticeships within its own skills academy , including tradesmen , accounts , management and degree design engineers . Little wonder , therefore , after such a memorable first three decades , the next 30 years are eagerly anticipated .
Visit wiltonengineering . co . uk 43