AN ENTREPRENEURIAL IT expert has doubled the turnover of his business after launching a welding and fabrication arm.

A year ago Jonathan Wheatley set up MC Ware Mechanical, which is based in Stokesley and has a workshop in Bowburn, to offer services to industry using the latest technology.

He already owned IT business MC Ware, which specialises in the marine industry, and decided to combine that experience with input from his brother, who works in the welding and fabrication industry.

In the 12 months to July last year, the firm grew revenues from £1.5m to £3.6m and made a six-figure profit after winning work in the burgeoning oil, gas and renewable energy sectors.

Wheatley expects full-year revenues to top £5m.

During the period, the company’s IT services arm produced a steady performance on the back of contract wins from repeat customers, generating more than one third of group revenues. But the star performer was the group’s engineering arm, MC Ware Mechanical, which racked up almost £2m of business in eight months since launching in November 2010.

Wheatley, managing director of MC Ware Group, said: “MC Ware Mechanical has grown at a rate of knots because there is so much demand for supply chain work on oil, gas and renewable energy projects.

“That side of the business is less than 18 months old and it’s punching well above its weight.

“Already we have worked on several projects led by international big-hitters with influence all around the globe.”

During the period, MC Ware won several large contracts from Darlington trenching specialist CTC Marine and worked on the mobilisation of several ships for pipe and cable infrastructure giant Visser & SmitHanab.

MC Ware also clinched a contract to supply equipment for the Sheringham Shoal wind farm project, which aims to provide enough clean energy to power almost 220,000 homes.