Sharing his experience

Aug 27 2009 By Christopher Knox, The Journal

Students at Newcastle University are celebrating after receiving cash prizes as part of an awards scheme set up by prominent North East businessman Dr Tony Trapp. Christopher Knox caught up with the inspirational entrepreneur.

Farm engineer ploughs seas

HAVING worked at a nursery near Wimbledon in London, Dr Tony Trapp went on to study agricultural engineering at college and then moved north to Newcastle University to study for a BSc in mechanical engineering.

After taking a lecturing post at Edinburgh University, he returned to the North East to work as a research associate developing offshore and seabed geo- technology, just as the North Sea oil boom was beginning.

Opportunities began to emerge immediately with major players such as BP, which was looking for technology to help it lay a pipeline for its Magnus Field, 100 miles North East of Shetland.

At the same time, BT was seeking help to lay the first transatlantic fibre optic telephone cable.

His work brought him into contact with Wallsend’s subsea engineering group SMD, which had recently moved into pipeline and cable burials. He became a full-time director of the firm in 1984.

He played a pioneering role in the development of cable plough technology, including winning a Queen’s Award for Technology and eventually rose to the position of sales and marketing director. After developing a different strategy from his fellow directors at SMD, he left with the idea of setting up a new company from scratch at the age of 52, having spent most of his working life at the Wallsend company.

However, he soon put his apprehensions behind him after founding The Engineering Business in Riding Mill, Northumberland, which has become one of the fastest-growing companies in the North East and was recently bought by Dutch engineering and shipping business IHC Merwede for £30m.

His efforts have earned him the title of North East Business Executive of the Year 2008 from The Journal. He also takes pride in the fact that the business is continuing to grow and now employs some 180 people.

He said: "I am very proud of the fact that because of my company, the North East is now leading the world in the design and manufacture of marine trench technology. It is this kind of endeavour that needs to be encouraged if the North East is to accelerate its development.

"Through opportunities such as my position as David Goldman Visiting Professor of Business Innovation I have been able to inspire the next generation of North East entrepreneurs."