Member Article

Gateshead engineering consultants scoop contracts worth £25 million

A firm of Gateshead-based civil and structural design consultants have announced contract wins valued at £25 million.

Portland Consulting Engineering said contracts are at their highest level since forming in 2004 and have increased their workforce by 30%, including the recruitment of a trainee technician and senior engineer roles.

The recent contract wins include a project to refurbish the derelict Grade II listed Friarage Manor House in Hartlepool, on behalf of The Vela Group.

Portland will convert the former hospital building in to apartments alongside a new-build development of townhouses, bungalows and sheltered apartments for older people.

In York, the firm has been appointed to a new build scheme to create a state-of-the-art animal management teaching facility at Askham Bryan College, the fastest growing land-based education college in the UK.

Finally, Portland has been appointed to provide its structural design expertise to student accommodation company, Ziggurat on its conversion of properties at Claremont Place, Newcastle creating 89 self-contained luxury residential studios for students. The accommodation will complete for the beginning of the 2015 academic year.

According to Lee Barr, Portland’s managing director, developing a robust business plan and providing clients with a consistently innovative and high level of services has been the foundation for the consultancy’s ability to not only weather the economic storm of the past few years but come out of it in a stronger position.

Retaining a cautious optimism, Lee Barr said: “The past few years have been challenging for anyone in the construction industry and margins remain tight. However, thanks to our strong business model we have not only been able to safeguard jobs, we have been able to create some too.

“We have also invested further in updating our BIM technology to ensure we are in line with the Government’s needs by 2016.

“Whilst we enjoyed our busiest year last year and continue to receive a steady flow of enquiries, ranging in value across a variety of sectors, there is no room for complacency. However, I am confident of further growth in both turnover and staff numbers in the coming year.”

Mr Barr continued: “My confidence stems from the fact that we continue to win repeat business from a host of clients including those in manufacturing, where there are encouraging signs of an increase in work on bespoke projects and speculative industrial developments.

“Also in social housing where we have developed strong relationships and a great reputation for delivering on major schemes. “

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .