Member Article

Brims Construction doubles headcount as pipeline grows

Brims Construction has recruited a further 15 staff as it continues to build its reputation and a strong pipeline of news work.

The Sunderland company has increased headcount from 60 to 75 people in the last few months after adding 10 staff, including three new apprentices, earlier in 2015.

This recruitment drive follows a number of high-profile contract wins including the new research laboratory, known as The Key on Newcastle University’s Science Central scheme, which features a revolutionary lightweight, fabric roof canopy.

Also in the public sector Brims has recently started work on a £2m redevelopment of Durham University’s Collingwood College, which has to be completed in a 13-week window over the summer.

Further contract wins in the work in educational sector include improvements at three schools in Morpeth owned by the Three Rivers Learning Trust.

In the private sector Brims has started work on a new Skoda showroom in Cramlington and is close to completing £2m of work for the new Reece Group headquarters on Scotswood Road, Newcastle.

Brims, which expects to surpass last year’s record sales of £22m, has a healthy pipeline of over £30m of work. It recently purchased three new vehicles and is in the process of launching a new website.

Senior hires among its 15 new starters include commercial manager Paul Blenkinsop, who previously worked for Sir Robert McAlpine. and will head the team of quantity surveyors.

Further hires include new senior project manager Harry Twizell who arrived from GB Building Solutions, senior estimator Mark Scott, from Koru, and estimator Brian Smith.

New site manager Peter Swinbanks has joined from Pyeroy and recent graduate Ellen McGann will support Kim Watson in a marketing and business development role. A second recent graduate Michael Bell has started work as an assistant site manager.

Director Richard Wood said: “These are exciting times for Brims and we are growing our staff numbers as we grow our business.

“It is vitally important that we secure the right blend of youth and experience in our team and our recent recruitment drive has achieved that.

“There are real signs that the recovery in the wider economy is filtering through to the construction sector and we believe we are well placed to secure further work as confidence returns in the coming months.”

Brims is also currently involved in some major developments in Newcastle including: a £4m office development on the Quayside for the Live Theatre, the £3m Maling Exchange creative office scheme in Ouseburn and the £15m, 270-bed Glass Works student accommodation scheme, also in the Ouseburn.

As well as its 75 full-time staff it can employ up to a further 400 people at any one time at its on-going schemes.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .