BUILDING WHAT COMES NEXT
Founder – PC Logistics director and shareholder Bill Scott OBE DL.
PICTURE: CHRIS BOOTH WORDS: DAVE ROBSON
RIVERSIDE
Celebrating 20 years: how a chance phone call helped launch the PC Logistics success story
POWERHOUSE
It is one of the UK’ s largest riverside industrial sites and a world-class marine logistics hub. As PC Logistics celebrates 20 years on the banks of the River Tees, in the shadow of the iconic Transporter Bridge, a key figure in its story has been reflecting on an extraordinary journey.
In 1994, Bill Scott and business partner Steve Glenn founded Wilton Engineering. As part of the Wilton Group, the company has grown into a successful engineering and fabrication business, delivering major contracts across the subsea, offshore oil and gas, offshore wind and defence sectors.
Wilton Engineering is based on part of PC Logistics’ 113-acre site near Port Clarence- the inspiration for the“ PC” in its name.
PC Logistics combines the historic Port Clarence Offshore Base and the adjoining former Haverton Hill shipyard.
Had it not been for a chance phone call 20 years ago, the PC Logistics success story might have taken a very different direction.
In 2006, Wilton was outgrowing its Hartlepool base. Bill was driving home through Port Clarence when he received a call from his accountant.
Bill, now an OBE and deputy lieutenant, recalls:“ He told me he was also the private accountant for Jaap Kroese, who owned the massive Swan Hunter shipyards and was looking to sell their
Port Clarence facility. So, by nine o’ clock the next morning, I was in Swan Hunter’ s Newcastle facility, going into a meeting with Jaap.
“ He asked me,‘ Why do you want to buy my site?’ I told him that I wanted to build subsea systems, large offshore oil and gas modules and to take on more apprentices. At that, he just said,‘ I will sell you my shipyard '.
“ He went to shake my hand but I pulled my hand back. I said to him,‘ Hang on... how much?’ He replied,‘ Don’ t worry, it will be the best deal you’ ll ever do '. So, I leaned forward and shook his hand.
“ A few days later, I went back to his office and he had a folded piece of paper for me with the price on it. I opened it and couldn’ t contain my smile. I closed it back up, pushed it back to him and said,‘ That can’ t be right, that’ s too cheap '. He said to me,‘ Young man, take that site and turn it into an amazing place. Build your subsea systems, build your modules, take your apprentices on and make me proud’.”
PC Logistics was established to acquire the initial 33-acre site from Jaap, including 11 factories, five office blocks and two quays. Two years later, a second adjoining site added a further 22 acres.
Following more recent acquisitions, the site has expanded into a 113-acre complex comprising seven quays, five slipways, a module yard, a shipyard and an inset wet dock.
Today, PC Logistics operates as a global logistics hub, offering extensive quayside access, warehousing, breakbulk storage, vessel support and chartering, shipping and transport solutions, heavy lift operations, site services, welding, fabrication, coating and painting, alongside a freeport customs zone.
The company has also committed to the Tees Marine Cluster, supporting collaboration, local education and apprenticeships to help grow the region’ s maritime sector.
Bill told This Is Tees Valley:“ There has been significant investment in the site over the past 20 years and, as we move forward, we are taking on more tenants, expanding our footprint with further offices and manufacturing facilities, in addition to designing and building a new apprentice academy.
“ I have a lot to thank our accountant and Jaap for. It really was the deal of the century. Jaap had the philanthropic foresight to place the facility in the hands of the next generation, which was simply amazing.”
Visit pclogistics. co. uk
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