Member Article

Seymour moves into new headquarters after record year

A REGIONAL construction giant has moved into new premises after posting its best ever financial results.

Seymour Civil Engineering posted record results of £35m, thanks to a plethora of repeat business and additional orders.

The company has worked on a number of projects including costal defence work, the rerouting of the Ouseburn river to alleviate flood risk and various large scale projects for local authorities and within the construction industry.

Kevin Byrne, Managing Director at Seymour Civil Engineering, said: “The business is growing, and that is reflected by the fact we have taken over the new building.

“I would describe it as organic growth, and for the first time we now have the core business all based in one location having previously worked out of two separate offices.

“You can see by the figures how the company is growing. We are delighted with the figures, it is an excellent performance.”

One of the key factors in the most recent growth was the Accelerated Flooding scheme which was carried out on behalf of Northumbria Water to reduce the risk of flooding to thousands of homes across the region.

The firm is now based in Mandale House, on Hartlepool Marina, with staff who had previously been based in offices in Havelock Street and Navigation Point in the town now all under one roof.

A total of 50 staff are based in the new building, which is being renamed Seymour House, with the remainder of the 170-strong workforce located on sites of the various projects the firm is working on.

Seymour is recognised as one of the North East’s leading civil engineering businesses, and specialises in drainage, urban renewal projects, restoration and development work as well as sea defence and coastal protection work.

Kevin added: “We had reached a point where there needed to be a step change. We had taken the turnover from £20m into the £30m bracket, and the new building is an ideal location for us as it is just 500 yards from the depot where we keep all of our heavy goods vehicles and machinery.

“The bulk of our business is carried out within a 50 mile radius of Hartlepool, though we stretch as far north as Berwick, down to Leeds and across to the Cumbrian border.

“We also have depots in Blaydon and Darlington, so we’re accessible wherever the work is being carried out.”

Kevin joined Seymour in 1989 where he ran the estimating department. He became a director at the firm in March 2006 before working his way to his current position.

He added: “We are moving in the business in the right direction, there is growth year on year and we want to control that. Five years down the line, I’d like to think we will be operating with a £50m turnover with a workforce well in excess of 300.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ian Willis .