Finley Structures have gone green with a fleet of eco-friendly motors. We’ve invested £85,000 in five Audi A3s, which have reduced omissions and are also more cost-effective.

The cars – from Audi Teesside, Stockton – omit 105 CO2 and cost just £20 a year to tax.

Employees Ken Gray, Steve Walker, John Wayper, Mark Stones and Rob Duncan are the proud new drivers.

Julie Finley said: “Other than it being a conscious, environmentally-friendly move, the cars are cheaper to run than the previous company vehicles and they’re also very comfortable for the driver, so all round it was a no-brainer and a really sound investment.”

As well as the much-publicised Hitachi Rail Europe contract, we’re currently working on quite a complex project for Japanese car manufacturer Nissan.

In late 2013, we won a contract to construct what will eventually be Nissan’s new factory to manufacture its new Infiniti range.

It’s part of Nissan’s £250m investment at Sunderland, which will see the new Infiniti Q30 being made next year.

Our part of the project is to construct two buildings, involving a total of more than 1,300 tonnes of steel.

The body shop extension is approximately 600 tonnes, and the trim shop extension involves about 730 tonnes, with both being made up of long span girders and trusses.

We’re fabricating 200 intricate steel trusses for the job, with 10 of them going through our shop floor every day, peaking at 16 per day.

“Both extensions have to be fixed back to existing buildings,” said Julie Finley.

“It’s another complex project as we are working in close proximity to a live manufacturing environment but it’s another challenge our team is relishing and enjoying.

“We’re getting through on average 50 of these trusses every week, while working on a number of other jobs simultaneously, which is further evidence of our growing capabilities and increasing capacity.”

Nissan’s new facilities will cover 25,000 square metres, and will include space for the Q30’s body and platform to be assembled, plus an area for trim and chassis, which will include a new engine installation facility.

The factory extension is due to be completed in time for the Q30 launch in 2015, with Infiniti claiming that the expansion and investment will create 1,000 jobs, including 280 new jobs at the Sunderland factory, plus more with its UK supplier base.

We’ve been awarded a multi-million pound deal to construct Hitachi Rail Europe’s train-building factory in County Durham.

Shepherd Construction, Darlington Office, the main contractor for the project, has given us the task of constructing the steel frame of the main factory on the 42,700sqm site at Aycliffe Business Park.

We’ve also been handed a secondary steelwork package in a huge contract involving a total of 2,000 tonnes of steel.

The factory, which will include a research and development centre, is expected to take about 20 months to complete, and will support more than 200 jobs in its construction.

It will then employ 730 people once open by the end of summer 2015, and it’s estimated thousands more in the supply chain.

Neil Matthias, Shepherd’s project manager for the Hitachi factory, says the deal is another example of how the firm is committed to using local companies after appointing Rushyford-based Hall Construction to carry out the groundworks.

Mr Matthias said: “I am pleased to announce we have appointed Finley Structures for the design, manufacture and installation of the steel frame together with secondary steel elements within the building.

“This is great news for the project and for the scheme, and particular John Finley who has been close to the project for a number of years and has worked alongside Shepherd for a number of years within the industry.

“We know Finley Structures will give 100% commitment to the project and look forward to getting started.”

Finley Structures has worked with Shepherd Construction on a 1,000-tonne project at Drax Power Station in Selby, North Yorkshire, and the 950-tonne National Renewable Energy Centre (NAREC) in Blyth, as well as a 500-tonne contract at Ercall Wood Technology College in Telford and a 400-tonne job at Daventry Academy, Northampton.

Mr Finley said: “It goes without saying we’re proud and absolutely delighted to be given this contract.

“We have a long-standing relationship with Shepherd Construction and we’ve worked with them on a number of major contracts over the last few years, so we’re looking forward to working on what is another flagship project.

“Hitachi Rail Europe and Merchant Place Developments have said from the very beginning that they will use local suppliers and contractors as much as possible, and clearly this deal means they’re sticking to their word.

“I would especially like to thank Geoff Hunton from Merchant. Geoff can be credited largely for helping to bring Hitachi to Newton Aycliffe.”

In May last year (2013), Hitachi Rail Europe signed a deal with Newcastle-based developers Merchant Place Developments to construct and fit out the train-building factory, and then in November Shepherd Construction was revealed as the main contractor for the 20-month project during a high-profile ceremony attended by Business Secretary Vince Cable.

Darren Cumner, Manufacturing Plant Manager at Hitachi Rail Europe, said: “The appointment of Finley Structures for the steelworks contract is excellent news for the region.

“For Hitachi, it is most important that our rail vehicle manufacturing facility is built to the highest quality standards and we are delighted that with Finley Structures, a local company, has been able to answer to these requirements and to secure the contract.

“From the day we decided on Newton Aycliffe as the home for our new train factory, we have time and again seen direct confirmation that companies in the region are more than capable of fulfilling our high quality and reliability standards.”

Mr Hunton added: “Merchant Place Developments fully endorse the statement made by Hitachi and are delighted with the appointment of a local North East based company for the steelworks contract which has fully justified our belief in the North East when promoting the benefits of the Newton Aycliffe site.”

The Labour MP for Sedgefield, Phil Wilson, played a big part in paving the way for Hitachi’s successful bid for the £5.8 billion Intercity Express Programme (IEP).

“This is fantastic news for the area and I’m delighted that more local jobs will be supported during the construction of the factory,” said Mr Wilson.

“When you have a company like Hitachi prepared to build an £82m facility here, it proves there is great faith in the area, and to see local companies all coming together to work on the project like this is just wonderful.”

We’ve appointed former Severfield Rowen director Jim Graham as our new operations manager.

Jim, originally from Newton Aycliffe, spent 22 years with leading Thirsk-based steel fabricating group Severfield, latterly as operations director.

Jim admits to getting his “passion” back as he relishes the task of helping fast-growing Finley Structures to “the next level”.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for me,” said the 53-year-old. “Finley Structures is a vibrant, growing firm with a glowing reputation in the industry and I want to help them achieve their ambitions.

“What has always struck me about Finley is that it’s a family-run firm, which says a lot these days. There’s a family atmosphere around the place and it’s well run – it’s a nice place to come to work.

“My ambition now is to help Finley Structures to a level where it’s fabricating between 250 and 350 tonnes of steel a week with controlled, structured expansion and establishing the firm as a major market force in the UK.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Severfield Rowen, living through a number of major takeover deals and helping it through several transitional periods to establish it as a UK market-leader.

“But personally I needed a new motivation, and I’ve known John Finley for more than 20 years. I’m from Aycliffe and I’ve been hugely impressed by the strong but steady progress his company has made in recent years, particularly during difficult times.

“It’s an exciting new chapter for me – it has given me my passion for the job back – and it’ll hopefully be a very exciting new chapter for Finley Structures.”

Jim started his career as an Apprentice with Darlington-based Conder Structures, becoming contracts manager, then cladding manager, before joining Severfield as contracts manager in 1992.

He worked his way to contracts director at Severfield after just three years then he became deputy managing director in 2010 before he was appointed operations and contracts director in 2011 to the newly formed Severfield-Watson business.

Jim will sit directly between the Finley’s board of directors – parents John and Valerie and their children Julie and Gary – and the company’s management team.

Finley Structures has recently completed work at DRAX power station to help construct a complex new bio conveyor.

Finley’s had to fabricate and erect the 70-metre tall conveyor facility which will feed the state-of-the-art Biomass power station at Drax near Selby in North Yorkshire, which is already the UK’s biggest source of electricity.

Drax Power had to scrap plans to construct a brand new Biomass plant at its Selby base, and instead upgrade its current facility to enable it to produce Bio Fuel.

And after completing the contract to erect NAREC’s new wind turbine testing facility in Blyth, Northumberland, for main contractors Shepherd Construction, the York based firm awarded Finley the fabrication and installation of gantry steelwork at Drax – the company’s most challenging contract to date.

“This was a great contract win, it demonstrates the size and complexity of work we’re not only willing to take on, but can deliver,” said MD John Finley.

“We had to use a 1,100-tonne crawler, which has a jib that can work to 160 metres, and we were working at heights of up to 70 metres to construct the conveyor which actually goes above the power station’s existingbuilding, to feed materials into it.

“Our recent NAREC contract was 30 metres high, so that demonstrates the scale of this project, but it’s a contract we all took head-on.

“It’s another Shepherd Construction-awarded contract, who were obviously pleased with the job we did for them at NAREC and gave us this one, so we’re delighted to be working with them on such a major project.”

A welder has showed how Apprenticeships can help forge a high-flying career in the construction industry.

Andrew Workman, nicknamed Wil by friends, has worked for us for the past 10 years and has recently been promoted to senior estimator.

The 38-year-old – pictured with the firm’s new senior estimator Chris Hodgson – completed an Apprenticeship in fabrication and welding with the Army after leaving Woodham Academy, Newton Aycliffe, in 1991.

After leaving the forces, Andrew found work with Aycliffe-based Ross Wright Engineering and also worked for a number of other firms as a welder or fabricator before joining Finley’s a decade ago, working his way up from awelder to a supervisor’s position and then workshop foreman before he moved into the office as an estimator.

Andrew said: “The opportunity to progress again came about when the role of senior estimator was advertised, which I applied for and was lucky enough to be offered.

“It’s a great example of how Apprenticeships can reap rewards. There are some people in my position who went down the University route and this shows both avenues can be equally rewarding.

“I’ve been with Finley Structures for 10 years now, seeing the business grow into what we are today, one of the biggest fabricators in the country.

“I am now looking forward to the next ten years, and welcome new estimator Chris Hodgson to the team, who brings with him a wealth of experience.”

Chris, who has recently joined Finley Structures as a senior estimator, started his first job with Indescon Steel Division, Darlington, in 1987, working in various departments including estimating up until 1991.

He worked briefly for Permoid in Newton Aycliffe during 1991 then started at Tarmac Roadstone at Coxhoe quarry, pricing road construction projects.

He then joined South Durham Structures where he worked for over 14 years, pricing a vast range of projects until accepting a job offer at Hambleton Steel in April 2005, pricing larger and a more diverse range of projects.

A three-year stint with steel structural firm Hares of Snape, based in Bedale, North Yorkshire, followed for Chris, up until joining Finley Structures in May.

A fully-qualified health and safety expert has already got into full swing at Finley Structures!

Sports lover Mark Stones has been appointed as our new Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality (SHEQ) Manager.

The 43-year-old, a long-time member of Bishop Auckland Golf Club who also played Under-19s county level cricket for Durham in his pomp, has joined the highly-skilled workforce at our Aycliffe Business Park premises.

Mark, married to wife Melanie since 1997, was previously SHEQ Manager with Seaham-based aluminium fabricators Fortress Facades for two years and before that he spent just over a year as Health and Safety Director for construction firm Indbuild in Richmond.

A Chartered Member of Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), Mark is also a FULL Member of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM), with association of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) in-line with the requirements of the environmental management.

He said: “I am already enjoying my time with Finley Structures. I believe I can contribute much to the internal and external direction of the company with employees and clients alike.

“I have been charged with maintaining and upgrading the Achilles certification as well as working towards and achieving ISO9001 Quality and ISO14001 Environmental management systems.

“I have already located all relevant risk assessments to the machinery and work procedures as well as daily inspection sheets across the spectrum of activities with task-specific RA’s being rolled out to all staff – from the office, to fabrication on the shop floor as well as on-site.

“I like a laugh and a joke as much as anyone but when it comes to work I am serious when the situation demands and to the point – I do not suffer fools or improper behaviour.”

Finley’s managing director Julie Finley added: “We’re delighted to bring someone like Mark on board, he brings with him not just a raft of qualifications, but also a wealth of knowledge and invaluable health and safety experience.

“Zero Harm is absolutely paramount in the construction industry and hopefully Mark will enable us to build on the good reputation we already have for creating a safe environment within the workplace.”

As well as his love for sport, Mark enjoys holidays walking pet dog ‘Oliver’, and over the years he has been involved with a number of fundraising events for charitable organisations, such as walks, fancy dress parties, sportsman evenings and golf days.

A manufacturing leader has praised the work of a North-East steel firm after visiting the region.

Terry Scuoler, chief executive of EEF, the manufacturer’s organisation, says Finley Structures’ tradition of bringing Apprentices through their company can only help to bridge a “gaping” skills shortfall.

Mr Scuoler travelled from London to attend an apprentice reunion event at SW Durham Training (SWDT) in Newton Aycliffe, when he handed the Black and Decker award for Effort in Engineering to Finley Structures’ 18-year-old plater and welder Jake Millen.

He also praised a local initiative involving a number of Aycliffe firms, including Finley Structres, which has seen them deliver an Apprenticeship Awareness Programme to year 9 students in the town.

“We don’t have enough Apprentices coming through, so Finley Structures are helping us to head in the right direction,” said Mr Scuoler.

“We face a huge problem over the next five years, with an already gaping skills shortfall in our industry expected to increase to around 180,000 by 2017, which is alarming.

“That’s why the work of South West Durham and Finley Structures, in continuing the great tradition of Apprenticeships in the North-East, is absolutely fundamental.

“Outreach programmes are also massively important. I believe education at 15 or 16 is too late, and we need to start engaging youngsters much, much earlier.

“More and more businesses are starting to recognise that, which is why we’re seeing projects such as the Apprenticeship Awareness Programme being delivered in Aycliffe, and I hope we see more of it.”

Jake Millen joined Finley Structures in February 2012 as an apprentice Plater/Welder from South West Durham Training.

The firm’s HR manager Pauline Hadwin said: “Jake has applied himself in all aspects of his training and development resulting in him receiving this award – we’re very proud of his achievement to date and hope that he maintains his high standards.”

It was SWDT’s 45th annual awards ceremony, which was also attended by former student Gareth Berry, now vice-president of Electrolux Major Appliances.

A head teacher has added the final bolt to the skeleton structure of his new school.

Paul Gillis, head of Whitworth Park School in Spennymoor, was taken up a height in a cherry-picker before screwing the last bolt into the £11m extension.

The development, which is expected to be ready in September, will see Tudhoe Grange School merge with Spennymoor School to create Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form College, in County Durham.

The plan will see part of the existing 1950s-built school demolished and a three-storey sixth form block and reception area built, with the combined number of pupils rising to 1,246.

Finley Structures have completed the 150-tonne steel structure on behalf of main contractor Carillion.

Mr Gillis said: “I’m thrilled to be adding the final bolt to this hugely exciting development.

“The extension will mean an enormous amount to the school and the community of Spennymoor. It’ll bring facilities that will be second-to-none which will enable us to raise aspirations and ambitions throughout the school.”

Thirty pupils from Whitworth School were given a behind-the-scenes tour of Finley Structures to see how their new school is being made. They also signed a plate of steel, which has been welded into the new structure.

Gary Finley, director of the family-run firm whose daughter attends the school, said: “This development meant a little bit more than most of our contracts, but it’s always a pleasure to work with schools and to show children around so they can see how we go about building their new facility.

“It’s always nice to involve the young people wherever we can and it’s rewarding to see them come in and learn about our operations.”

Carillion’s community liaison manager Jane Braybrook added: “It’s important for the school and the pupils to have ownership of the new school so we’ve been working hard to involve them as much as we possibly can.

“I’m sure the children and youngsters will be delighted with the extension when it’s fully completed next year.”

Carillion plc is one of the UK’s leading support services and construction companies and has constructed dozens of schools throughout the North-East in recent years through the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

A senior school teacher has praised an exciting programme aimed at increasing the awareness of Apprenticeships among students.

More than 20 pupils from Woodham Academy in Newton Aycliffe visited Finley Structures in the second ‘phase’ of a pioneering project which is designed to arm youngsters with a better knowledge of the options available to them on leaving school.

Finley Structures has joined leading Aycliffe firms such as Tallents Engineering, Aycliffe Fabrications, Palram, Ebac, Stiller Transport and 3M to launch the Apprenticeship Awareness Programme, which has been funded through the Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership (GAMP).

More than 150 year 9 students took part in a carousel of workshops, dubbed “speednetworking”, when the companies involved gave the youngsters a short insight into what they do.

The tutor groups were then allocated one firm which they visited this week, when they got to learn more about their chosen industry, from manufacturing to IT and HR.

Finley Structures staff downed tools for a morning as eight members of the firm’s management team hosted 22 students from Woodham, when they were given a guided tour of the shop floor at their Aycliffe Business Park site.

Key staff, including directors Gary and Julie Finley – the son and daughter of owner John – also talked to them about production, structural engineering, estimating, accounts and HR.

Woodham’s head of year 9, Neil Spoor, said: “This really is a marvellous initiative, it has given the students a real insight into the world of work and also about the opportunities that are available to them on their doorstep here in Aycliffe.

“There are lot of wonderful companies operating on Ayclife Business Park, such as Finley Structures, who offer fantastic careers in all walks of industries.

“It will certainly help them when it comes to their choices, and give them a clear insight into what’s required if they want to pursue an Apprenticeship in, say, structural engineering.

“The Finley staff demonstrated how you can get to where you want to be by either going to college and university, or going down the Apprenticeship route, and for that reason this is an excellent programme.

“We’re also very grateful to all the firms involved. They have all taken them extremely seriously, dedicating a number of hours from management and key staff to spend on this, and it’s fantastic that they see the value of it.”

Finley Structures regularly welcome students through their doors at Aycliffe, and have held numerous open days to show pupils how their new schools are being built.

Director Julie said: “We see this as not only an important part of what we’re all about, but it’s also about giving young people more educated options, so they know exactly what’s involved in an Apprenticeship programme.

“Even if it isn’t for them, this programme gives them a practical insight, so it helps them to make more informed decisions when it comes to leaving school and choosing their career path.”

The project is being led by Woodham Academy with input from EDT, the largest provider of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics enrichment activities for young people in the UK, and supported by both Woodham and Greenfield schools.

Finley Structures, formed by Mr Finley in 2000, now has a turnover approaching £12m and regularly wins contracts from 50-tonne to 2000-tonne nationwide.