Member Article

Further appointments as Houghton International positions for growth

Following on from its recent £300,000 investment, Newcastle based electro mechanical engineering specialist Houghton International has taken on another three new recruits to further support the company’s ambitious growth plans for 2016 and beyond.

Catharine Gidney joins the team as HR Manager, Mark Anderson as QSE Manager and Michael Mulroy in the newly created Project Manager position.

Michael Mitten, CEO of Houghton International, commented: “We have a very diverse team here at Houghton International and our challenge now is to continue to develop and work to position ourselves as an employer of choice in the region to enable us to recruit in line with business needs as we grow into 2016 and beyond.

“We have increased our head count by around 15% this year and in her role as HR manager Catharine will be key to helping us deliver future growth. Supported by Mark, Michael and the rest of the team we want to ensure that Houghton International remains a great place to work, both now and in the future.”

Joining the team from Mears Group, Catharine brings over 15 years HR experience to Houghton International and will take responsibility for the company’s overall HR and recruitment strategy.

Catharine said: “It’s an exciting time to be joining the company and I’m very proud to have been chosen to join this team. Houghton International is a strong business, underpinned by even stronger values. In my short time here I can see that it is the people that make the company special and I’m confident that as we grow we can retain and further develop the culture that made it so successful to date.” As QSE Manager Mark Anderson will take the lead on Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental matters, working across the business to ensure the company is both compliant and a safe place to work. In the role of Project Manager Michael Mulroy will be working to help deliver some of the larger business improvement projects required to take the business forward, ensuring the business is set up deliver new contracts and develop new products.

The company recently invested £300,000 in new machinery and factory redevelopments and took on six new trainees. Alongside this the company is also investing in developing innovative new products and working on accessing new markets both in the UK and overseas, all of which supports their plans to grow the company to a turnover of £20million by 2020.

Founded in 1984 Houghton International has expanded over the last 30 years into a multi-million pound, multinational business. The company has grown from originally serving one customer to now working with over 200 customers in the UK and beyond. Houghton International currently export to over 23 countries worldwide, including Canada, Greece, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, Nigeria, Norway, Venezuela, Malaysia, the Middle East, the USA and the Caribbean. Located over three sites on Walker riverside, it now employs 86 staff and specialises in the repair, maintenance and life extension of electrical mechanical assets servicing a broad range of sectors including power generation, renewables, industrial, water, oil and gas, marine and rail.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tiffany Scott .