Member Article

Darlington high risers go back to their roots

Stone Technical Services (STS) has announced plans to expand its STS Maintenance and Facilities Management division thanks to an influx of contracts since the start of the year.

The company, which started life specialising in industrial steeplejacks in 1998, has recently secured a number of prestigious contracts for its maintenance and FM division which is allowing STS to create a number of new jobs for apprentices and also experienced operatives in the sector.

STS Maintenance and Facilities Management is working at Ineos at Seal Sands on Teesside on a major shutdown project to carry our maintenance and safety work. MD of STS, Dave Stone, completed his first industrial project at the same site in 1978 and, since then, has returned with his team to carry out a range of projects.

In addition, STS Maintenance and Facilities Management has won new contracts with Durham County Council to complete annual chimney stack inspection at a variety of council buildings including schools and factories as well as works at Barnard Castle School and investigation works for Newcastle City Council at the Civic Centre.

In addition, in Scotland STS Maintenance and Facilities Management is assisting with repairs on the Forth Road Bridge, providing the lifeline and safety systems as well as internal and external repair ladders and a water-based safety boat to allow for the maintenance work at the 2.5km long bridge which spans the Firth of Forth, connecting Fife and the North of Scotland with capital city Edinburgh and the South.

Since the start of the year, STS has secured over £1 million of new work which will take them ahead of their projected growth plans, helping to create around 10 new jobs.

The company is made up of four divisions - STS Lightning Protection, STS Restoration, STS Maintenance and Facilities Management and STS Conservation- and is now on course to increase turnover to £3.5 million in 2016.

Other projects that STS has recently completed include the restoration and preservation of the Corbridge Bottle Kilns, lightning protection installations at the University of York and at The Oval and Lord’s cricket grounds, safety repairs at QPR’s football stadium at Loftus Road, specialist lead work repairs at the Royal Courts of Justice on The Strand and historic surveys to check for any required repairs at Westminster Central Hall.

Managing director of STS, Dave Stone, said: “The growth in our maintenance and FM division is almost like we are going back to our roots. Industrial plants and chimneys is where it all started for us in the seventies before we even set up STS.

“Of course, the sad demise of industry on Teesside has meant we have had to diversify but, thanks to our strong reputation in the industrial and general maintenance sectors, we have recently won new contracts which is really helping to boost this side of our business.”

STS currently has a team of 40 and hopes to create around 10 new jobs before the summer.

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

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