Member Article

London keeps calling for Darlington daredevils

High-level restoration and repair experts, Stone Technical Services’ (STS), have started 2017 completing a range of high profile projects across London.

At the end of last year, STS reported its most successful year to date by revealing a 20% year-on-year growth with plans to recruit around 10 new staff in 2017, thanks to a growing workload.

Much of the company’s success can be attributed to its strong reputation not only in the North East but also in London, where it is fast-becoming a leading historic maintenance contractor.

Over the winter months, STS has been working on the Royal Courts of Justice with MITIE, the Serpentine Bridge for the Royal Parks, Westminster Central Hall, St Mary’s Church in Islington and Southwark Cathedral.

STS Conservation completed a construction and refurbishment programme of works at the Royal Courts of Justice which included pointing and stonework as well as surveys to the full structure and the decorative chimney stacks.

At Westminster Central Hall, London’s largest conference centre, STS Maintenance and Facilities Management has been carrying out surveys and winter maintenance repairs to the site, which dates back to 1912 and has hosted some of the world’s biggest names including members of the Royal Family, the Dalai Lama, Sir Winston Churchill and hundreds of politicians.

STS Restoration, meanwhile, has returned to the Serpentine Bridge in Hyde Park, where it completed a full bridge refurbishment last year, to carry out annual repairs to the stonework. The division has also been working at historic St Mary’s Church in Islington on the spire, weathervane and decorative urns as well as carrying out foundation inspections and a condition survey to the portico.

And STS Maintenance and Facilities Management has been working at Southwark Cathedral in south London to erect a new flagpole for the Royal Standard.

The company, which is made up of five divisions – STS RopeSpec, STS Lightning Protection, STS Restoration, STS Maintenance and Facilities Management and STS Conservation- has seen its turnover increase from around £2 million to over £3 million in the last 12 months and staff numbers are now approaching 50.

STS attributes its growth to repeat business with clients impressed with the company’s wide-ranging skills base, its continued success in the North East working on a wide variety of projects and also entering new markets in areas including London and the South East and Scotland.

Recent contracts include projects with the likes of the Highland Council in Scotland, Newcastle City Council, York Museums Trust, the Forth Road Bridge, Texaco, Mitchells and Butlers and Yorkshire Water.

Dave Stone said: “London is proving to be a very successful area of growth for our business, which we’re very proud of as it is so competitive. As well as new contracts, we’re getting repeat business which is vital in the current marketplace where there are fewer opportunities due to budget restraints.

“Our efficient, full-service team means we get projects completed on time without incurring extra costs and our multi-skilled and growing team are our greatest asset as we go forward in to the new year.”

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 .