Member Article

County Durham specialists scale new NE heights

Stone Technical Services Group (STS), in Darlington, has recently secured a number of high profile, new contracts at locations all over the North East.

The projects- stretching from Tyne and Wear to North Yorkshire- are worth in the region of £250,000 to STS as it continues to grow UK-wide whilst continually re-investing in its workforce and development at its North East HQ, on Kellaw Road in Darlington.

In Newcastle city centre, STS Conservation is carrying out conservation and drainage repairs to the 13th Century friary at Blackfriars, close to Chinatown, whilst on the Quayside the lightning protection division is fitting new systems to the old Tyne Tees building which is being turned into student accommodation.

Also in Newcastle, STS has secured a prestigious contract with Newcastle City Council and Keepmoat Plc to install lighting protection to hundreds of flats being re-developed as part of the multi-million pound Byker Wall refurbishment project.

In Warkworth, Northumberland Stone is working with Lumsden and Carroll and the Esh Group to build vital sandstone walls at Environmental Agency flood defences by the river. And in Cullercoats, STS Restoration is carrying out specialist church surveys to St George’s Church, famed for its 180 feet high spire which overlooks the Long Sands. The grade-1 listed building dates back to the 1800s and forms part of the Coastal Heritage Trail.

In County Durham, STS Maintenance and Facilities Management has been engaged by Durham County Council to carry out structural surveys and inspections of chimney stacks at all primary schools in the area to ensure they consistently meet the highest safety standards, while in Darlington Stone is working at the Cornmill Centre to carry out step and tread repairs to stairs and public areas.

Further south in North Yorkshire, STS Maintenance and Facilities Management is working for Leeds-based Crowther Turnbull Booth Architects at the Mountain Warehouse store in Whitby which suffered weather-related damage.

And finally, in Scarborough, Stone is completing general maintenance to roof and gutter repairs at Yorkshire Coast College.

Speaking about the wide variety of new contract wins, MD of STS, Dave Stone, said: “From regional icons to pubic buildings in daily use, we’re working on a massive range of jobs across the North East and Yorkshire. Because we can provide a full-service ranging from small gutter repairs to full-scale church surveys and renovations, clients get a cost-effective and efficient service from time-served and highly-skilled craftsmen and engineers. What’s also very encouraging for our continued growth is the number of returning clients who were impressed with our service and come back to us again when they need further works.”

At the start of 2014, Stone Technical Services Group re-branded to allow its four divisions to grow independently- STS Lightning Protection, STS Restoration, STS Maintenance and Facilities Management and STS Conservation- and to help with expansion plans and the ongoing diversification of the business, making best use of its teams’ areas of expertise.

As a result, the company recorded its most successful first quarter of its 15 year history after achieving £1 million in new contracts during the first three months of the 2014, which will help the business grow its turnover by around 50% over the next 12 months. These latest figures mean that STS is now well ahead of financial projections for 2014 and has already achieved half of last year’s £2 million turnover.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Addison Associates .