Small business, but a big reward for efforts

Oct 30 2007 by Joanne Welford, Evening Gazette

WHEN RS Industrial Services started out five years ago, the Haverton Hill-based company concentrated its efforts on selling, repairing and refurbishing cranes and lifting equipment.

Five years on and the business has grown and diversified, expanding into more areas of expertise - turning it into one of Teesside’s success stories.

And, if they needed any proof, official recognition came last year in the form of the Tees Valley Business Awards where RS Industrial Services walked off with top honours in the Small Business category.

It was an honour for the team and recognition of all their hard work, says Mike Riley - who founded the business in 2002 with Neil Sanderson.

“Winning an award like this makes people aware of your name and your brand and what we do. Overall it’s a fantastic opportunity,” said Mike.

“And it is something for the whole team.”

A £1m investment in the company over the past few years has seen it move premises from a site in Middlesbrough to a four acre site at Haverton Hill and expand the services offered to include business tool and equipment hire and an engineering supply shop which stocks power tools, clothing and building products.

The company has also developed a unit on the new site which provides more than 5,000sq ft of indoor training area with two large classrooms to offer industrial training courses.

The company employs a staff of 23 but, said Mr Riley, that will probably grow by three over the next few months.

It branched into new areas of trade initially because, said Mr Riley, the company simply couldn’t find the skilled crane engineers it needed - they currently have vacancies for two.

Recently, the company held its first major trade show on the four acre site, throwing open its doors to give customers the chance to see the facilities.

The event was a success with more than 200 North-east businesses visiting the site.

More than 45 of the firm’s suppliers also travelled to exhibit cluding names such as Bosch, Makita, Genie and Everbuild. Equipment on display included tools, clothing, building products and lifting equipment.

The Small Business award is open to companies with no more than 75 staff. Judges looked at what differentiated entrants from their competitors, managerial and financial performance, potential for growth and evidence of commitment and imagination in the product or service.

RS Industrial Services was praised for its innovation and commitment to customers.

The company has won contracts from blue chip companies in the UK and Europe as well as being involved in prestigious projects such as the de-commissioning of Western Europe’s first nuclear reactor and the installation of one of Britain’s most sophisticated crane remote control systems. RS Industrial Series also took the series award at the Tees Valley heat and NorthEast Business Awards regional final/

Ashington-based security lighting designer and manufacturer Raytec took the regional final title at the North East Business Awards last year.