Fast-growing South Tyneside-based Metec UK has won a pair of contracts totalling £5.5million to manufacture sacrificial anodes for the long-term protection of steel jackets and foundations against corrosion used in the offshore renewable energy industry.
These recent contract wins – one off the coast of Scotland and two offshore substation jackets off the coast of France and Holland – will in the future play a large part in helping to reduce CO2 emissions and produce more than 1500 MW of clean renewable energy.
Hot on the heels of these renewable energy wins, Metec UK has also been awarded a large LNG terminal project, taking large project wins close to £10million in 2020 – all in particularly challenging times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Established just three years ago, Metec UK, which has manufacturing facilities in South Shields and Tunisia with representation around the globe, is a leading manufacturer of corrosion protection for high value subsea assets. Initially employing just six people, the company now has 45 people within its business.
Turnover has increased from £5.2million in its first year to £8.6million this year, and with a host of new projects in the pipeline, the company will see revenue growth exceed its original target of 5-7% for the year 2020/2021.
Alberto Via, UK Managing Director of Metec, said:
“The last three years confirm that our decision to commit to the UK, and in particular to South Shields, was the right one. In a short space of time we have demonstrated Metec’s ability to support large, important and prestigious renewable energy projects throughout the UK and Europe – and much of that success is reflective of the North East workforce’s ability and attitude.
“Combined with the support from local councils, in particular South Tyneside, and business support we received, we are confident of a long-term future in the area. As a young ambitious and expanding company, which has invested over £4million in premises and furnaces since 2017, we predict our growth to remain healthy with a doubling of revenue by 2021.
“We have the capacity, capability and expertise at Metec that places us right at the heart of where we need to be in an industry which is set to see significant growth over the next eight to 10 years.
“With Government investment announcements for a number of offshore renewable technologies including Dogger Bank wind farms, renewables present a key opportunity to Metec and the North East region for employment – and we will be at the forefront of this exciting development.”
Cllr John Anglin, South Tyneside Council’s Lead Member for Regeneration and Economy, said:
“We’ve watched Metec go from strength to strength, capitalising on the borough’s and the wider region’s worldwide reputation and unrivalled skillset in the field.
“The company is a fantastic example of a young business which is making great waves in the offshore energy sector and one which has a great future ahead of it.
“Metec’s contribution to producing cleaning energy, together with their environmental accreditations is outstanding, and is a great example of what can be achieved when we all work together towards our common goal of carbon neutrality. I shall be watching the firm’s future success with interest.”
Graeme Crow, Commercial Manager at Metec, said:
“With an initial investment in 2016 from our Italian owners, Metec UK’s addition to the Group hugely strengthens our position in the market and strategically positions the business to support the renewable energy transition within Europe and the UK.”
Simon Cross, Production Manager at Metec, said:
“We’ve created eight roles over the last three months, with more to come by January 2021. We have also recruited two apprentices into full time roles and are in the process of taking on two more apprentices.
“With many high-profile projects in the pipeline and a host of contracts soon to be awarded, we have no doubt that we will be looking for more new recruits over the coming months.
“It’s no secret that there is a skills vacuum in traditional medium and heavy engineering and clearly we need to ensure our older workforce pass on their experience and expertise to the workforce of the future. We actively looking for new employees keen to maintain some of the area’s history in engineering and are looking at a fast track system for 18-24 year-old recruits.
“There’s a real buzz about the business and the opportunities that are open to us, and we’re delighted that our success is having a real knock-on effect across the local, regional and UK supply chain. It’s good news for South Tyneside, the North East and the UK.”
