Member Article

Access North elevates technical team with new appointment

Rope access specialist Access North Structures has appointed Richard Knight as its new Technical Project Manager, to oversee its growing portfolio of assignments across the UK.

Joining the Huddersfield-based team of height professionals with 13 years’ industry experience, Richard brings a wealth of technical and work at height expertise to the newly created role.

Having been self-employed as an industrial rope access subcontractor for more than ten years, he will be undertaking more management and client-facing responsibilities in his new position. Qualified at the highest grade for the industry with IRATA Level 3 certification, Richard’s duties will include building client relationships and providing job quotations, alongside project and team management.

Prior to scaling tall buildings and leading teams of technicians over the past decade, Richard initially qualified as a mechanic. Transitioning into work at height when he was employed as a tree surgeon in 2004, he moved into industrial rope access and building maintenance two years later. His previous subcontractor role didn’t just see him overseeing health and safety at sites all over the world – he was also tasked with training other technicians in onsite tower crane rescue and telecomms access.

With an expanding portfolio of rope access projects across many different sectors, Access North Structures required someone with adaptability and considerable technical experience to take on this challenging management position. And according to Managing Director Berenice Northcott, this is just what Richard brings to the role.

She comments: “With such a varied client base, we needed someone to join the team who is versatile, personable and skilled, and not put off by the travelling that this position entails. Richard has worked on a huge array of projects worldwide – from maintaining indoor rollercoasters in Dubai, to steel erecting on the Shard in London – so his technical know-how, vast on-site experience and charisma makes him an excellent fit.

“As we set our sights on expanding into more challenging areas, Richard’s past expertise in working on demanding projects – such as oil rigs and petrochemical plants – will be invaluable for our wider project planning and management.”

Elaborating on the responsibilities and objectives of his new role, Richard comments: “With my background in rope access and site safety, taking on this more office-based technical management role is a whole new challenge for me. I’m looking forward to learning from the other side of the fence, and helping to progress the business further.

“The creativity and forward-thinking nature of Access North is what attracted me to the position, as they’re not afraid to do things differently. I’m excited to be able to play a part in bringing the company even more success, by putting my own expertise into practice.”

Access North Structures is based in Armitage Bridge, Huddersfield and provides specialist rope access, ETFE, tensile fabrics and fall protection services to sites across the UK.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Katie Mallinson .