Member Article

Striking work for County Durham’s STS

Darlington lightning protection experts, Stone Technical Services (STS), have secured a number of new projects within their lightning protection division.

STS Lightning Protection is one of the most respected in its field, working around the UK on high profile projects as well as being the only appointed lightning conductor contractor at St Paul’s Cathedral.

The company has recently completed full lightning protection system installs for Darlington Council- at the Victorian clock tower in South Park, for York Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust at Malton Community Hospital, for the National Trust at Malham Tarn near Settle in North Yorkshire- which featured in the Harry Potter films- and at the Chapter House at St Paul’s Cathedral which is undergoing a full refurbishment.

The new projects are helping with STS’s plans to recruit more apprentices into the sector, where there is a shortfall of new recruits.

STS is a leader in the specialist field of lightning protection and is one of the most highly accredited in the industry as a member of the Association of Technical Lightning and Access Specialists (ATLAS), Lightning Conductor Engineers and also of the Steeplejack Training Group Association, operating to the highest compliance standards for lightning protection, BS EN 62305.

The company, whose HQ are on Kellaw Road in Darlington, provides specialist lightning protection installation to help prevent damage to buildings caused by lightning strikes and the costly repairs associated with them and also to ensure that systems are compliant for insurance purposes.

MD of STS, Dave Stone, said: “STS Lightning Protection is going from strength to strength because of our exceptionally skilled team. We exceed all industry accreditations so that our clients are always ahead of any new legislation or compliance. The new projects are allowing us to take on new recruits- especially apprentices as this is an industry that suffers from a very real shortage so we’re working with local colleges to encourage more to consider our sector.”

Editor’s Notes: -

Darlington brothers, Dave and Grahame Stone, established Stone Technical Services in 1998 and now have offices in Edinburgh city centre, near Stockport in Cheshire and in central London as well as their HQ on Kellaw Road in Darlington

As well as lightning protection, STS is a leader in the field of historic, high level and specialist maintenance and industrial steeplejack services. It comprises four divisions: - STS Lightning Protection, STS Restoration, STS Maintenance and Facilities Management and STS Conservation.

At the start of the year, STS announced that the business was ahead of its financial expectations with a 30% year on year increase, thanks to continued growth across all of its divisions. Turnover is now in excess of £2.5 million and managers expect this to reach £3 million by the end of 2015. In the last year, staff numbers have increased by five, reaching 39, and the business plans to create a further five new roles this year as well as a number of apprenticeship opportunities.

Other clients include Westminster Abbey, English Heritage, the NHS, the National Trust, BskyB and UK-wide local authorities. STS is also the appointed lightning conductor contractor at St Paul’s Cathedral and, in addition, recently completed the installation of a new lightning protection system on the grade II-listed Chapter House at the site, which is currently undergoing a repair programme.

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