Recruitment boss reveals boost to expansion plans

Mar 26 2008 By Jez Davison

THE managing director of a Tees recruitment company has revealed his expansion plans have been boosted by the recent influx of major technical engineering projects to the area.

Steve Guest believes his plans to double turnover of Wilton-based TechConsult UK Ltd can be achieved thanks to a growing need for skilled technical engineers brought about by projects such as the Wilton bio-ethanol plant and the £300m deep sea Northern Gateway Container Terminal at Teesport.

As well as increasing turnover to around £150,000-£200,000, he aims to open other UK outlets in the North-west and Aberdeen and employ at least three extra staff within the next 1-2 years.

Mr Guest said: "Currently, the Wilton operation contributes around 10% of the group’s UK turnover but we hope to increase this share rapidly. Eventually we hope to expand into bigger premises at the Wilton Centre and target other sectors such as administration and finance."

TechConsult UK provides temporary and permanent staff to the offshore, fabrication and maintenance, process, shipbuilding, and civil engineering industries. The Wilton operation, which employs four people, is part of the Norwegian-based TechConsult Group, whose offices are in Bergen, Oslo and Stavanger in Norway.

Mr Guest is currently in discussions with five potential North-east-based clients in the technical engineering and oil and gas sectors, which he believes have massive potential to create new jobs and attract skilled labour and inward investment to the region.

He said: "Many people who have worked in other areas of the country are now returning to the North-east to work on high-value projects in the oil and gas, sub-sea, construction, marine and renewables sectors.

"The salaries in the region are becoming more competitive and we have a very capable workforce. We already send workers to the likes of Australia, the United States and across Europe and now we are expanding with the intention of securing more placements in our own backyard."

TechConsult opened its UK operation in 2006 and currently turns over around £900,000.