Two new members of staff have joined the Finley Structures – while two have been promoted.

Neil Ryan has joined the firm as Site Supervisor and Crystal Moss-Henry has been appointed Payroll Administrator.

The new recruits have boosted Finley’s staff numbers to 63, with the family’s group of companies – including Finley Structures, SCH Site Services (45) and the ROF 59 activity centre (47) – now employing 155 people in total.

Neil, from Middlesbrough, has been in the steel industry for the past 19 years, progressing from steel erector to site foreman, and now Site Supervisor.

“When the chance of working as a site supervisor for Finley Structures came about it appealed to me straight away,” said Neil.

“I’m excited about the opportunity and looking forward to the challenge.”

Crystal previously worked for Darlington-based plumbing, heating and mechanical services firm R Bland 15 years, progressing through the company before covering all aspects of accounts.

Meanwhile, Diane Ruston and Andrew Workman have both gained new promotions within the company.

Diane, who joined Finley Structures as a Senior Quantity Surveyor in May 2014, is now our new Commercial Director.

She had previously worked for a major national construction company after graduating from Warwick University in 2004 with a degree in economics, before joining Finley Structures almost three years ago.

Andrew, a former Apprentice Welder, has been with the company more than 13 years and has recently been promoted to Estimating Manager.

He completed an Apprenticeship in fabrication and welding with the Army after leaving Woodham Academy in Newton Aycliffe in 1991.

After leaving the forces, Andrew worked for a number of other firms as a welder or fabricator before joining Finley’s, working his way up from a Welder to a Supervisor’s position and then Workshop Foreman before he moved into the office as an Estimator.

Finley Structures are still looking to appoint a new Quantity Surveyor, a Contracts Manager and an Estimator in the near future.

• Pictured (above, left to right) Andrew Workman, who has been promoted to estimating manager, new payroll administrator Crystal Moss-Henry, new site supervisor Neil Ryan and Diane Ruston, who has been promoted to commercial director.

The proximity of major power lines are proving no obstacle for Finley Structures after being awarded a 465-tonne project to construct a new distribution centre in Lancashire.

Road haulage giant Fagan and Whalley is expanding with a multi-million pound development on Burnley Bridge Business Park – a development which is creating at least 25 new jobs.

The transport firm won planning permission to build a 92,000 square foot distribution hub on a 10-acre site at the complex near the M65’s junction nine.

Finley Structures won the contract from Leeds-based GMI Construction to design and build its steel frame on a site which lies next to power lines.

Finley Structures Commercial Director Diane Ruston said: “We’ve had to erect the steel in close proximity to major power lines, and as the building is taller than the lines this is particularly challenging.

“But through the design process, we developed effective solutions to enable the project to be delivered safely and successfully.

“Furthermore, this is the first time we’ve worked with GMI and it’s great to foster another new relationship with a major contractor.”

F&W’s new hub will provide parking for up to 80 trailers, with 10 loading bays and 25,000 pallet locations.

The new development will complement the family-run firm’s existing headquarters at Shuttleworth Mead Business Park and satellite centre in Coventry which together employ 300 staff.

Burnley Bridge Business Park is a £50m development near Burnley, providing modern industrial and warehousing accommodation creating 1,400 jobs.

Finley Structures has completed a contract to fabricate and erect 560 tonnes of steel for a school on the Isle of Wight.

Sir Robert McAlpine is working on the £25m new development at Ryde Academy, located near the Northern coast of the island on an existing school site.

Planners gave the green light for the new school building and sports pitches to be constructed to the south of its existing site.

The construction includes a new two and three-storey school building, with a flexible school layout for the consolidated 1,500 place 11-16 year old secondary school.

The existing six blocks will be demolished after the new complex is commissioned, with the majority of that part of the site being turned into a car park.

Sir Robert McAlpine awarded Finley Structures the contract to fabricate and erect 560 tonnes of steel as part of the project.

Finley Operations Manager Jim Graham said: “It always makes things a bit more logistically difficult when there’s water involved.

“We fabricated the steel in Newton Aycliffe and transported to the south coast, and Red Funnel ferries took it across to the island.

“The school is also being built on an existing site, which has made the project a bit more difficult logistically, but we’re progressing well.”

Finley Structures was also given a 500-tonne project to build a new school for Abbotsfield School, in West London, for main contractor Bowmer & Kirkland, as well as a 260-tonne contract for Interserve Construction at Roundhay School in Leeds.

It comes just a few months after the Aycliffe firm was awarded a contract to work on a second building at the University of Lincoln for BAM Construction.

Jim added: “A lot of what we’re looking at the moment is education-based. It’s a trend that everyone seems to be focusing on at the moment.

“Everyone was building hospitals, then it was supermarkets, but now the focus seems to be on education – new schools and improving schools.

“It’s another glowing testament that we’ve reacted to the market and continued to pick up major contracts up and down the country.

“We knew it was going to be a peak-and-trough year but we’ve done very well in 2016, and are delighted with the recent positive news on our order book going forward.”

A flagship educational building built with Finley Structures steel has received a prestigious environmental award.

The Curve, Teesside University’s £20m teaching building at the heart of its Middlesbrough campus, has been rated ‘Excellent’ by the Building Research Establishment as part of its BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) standard, the world’s longest established method of assessing, rating, and certifying the sustainability of buildings.

BREEAM uses scientifically based criteria to evaluate energy and water use, health and wellbeing, pollution, materials, waste, ecology, and management processes to drive greater sustainability and innovation in the built environment.

It is the latest in a series of accolades, after The Curve scooped three architecture awards in April at the 2016 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) North East Awards. The building landed the Project of the Year, Design Through Innovation, and Regeneration prizes. The project will go forward to the national awards in London in October.

Malcolm Page, Teesside University’s chief operating officer, said: “Achieving the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating is fantastic recognition of the University’s environmental and sustainability credentials. The University is committed to providing the highest quality learning environment for our students and staff.

“The Curve has proven a hugely popular addition to our campus, and we are delighted to see its state-of-the-art design recognised through this string of awards.”

The Curve provides 1,476 square metres of quality teaching and learning space, and includes innovative energy efficiency, water recycling and ventilation features, which reduce CO2 emissions and drive sustainability.

The building was opened in September 2015, the centre-piece of the ambitious £30m Campus Heart development which included the pedestrianisation of Southfield Road and the creation of a living wall with giant LED screen.

Over recent years the University has invested nearly £260m in upgrading its campus.

Other investments include a brand new £2.75m health and fitness centre, The Gym, and a £6m upgrade of science and engineering facilities in both the Orion and Stephenson buildings

A further £6m refurbishment of the University library is currently underway, to improve facilities over the next three summers.

Finley Structures has won a contract to build a second university building for leading major contractor BAM Construction.

The family-run steel company, based on Aycliffe Business Park in County Durham, has started work on a 400-tonne project to construct the Sarah Swift building at the University of Lincoln.

The new £19m facility will house the university’s Schools of Health and Social Care and Psychology, as well as a Professional Development Centre with ongoing training for medical professionals in Lincolnshire.

It will stand on the site of the 19th century Pea Warehouse, which has been demolished to make way for the five-storey building, and is due for completion in May 2017.

The contract win comes after Finley Structures erected 500 tonnes of steel for BAM Construction to help build the £16m Isaac Newton building, which will house the university’s Engineering, Computer Science and Maths and Physics departments.

Finley Structures is now in negotiations to become a category 1 supplier to BAM, which is based in Hertfordshire but has locations across the UK, and is part of the Dutch-owned Royal BAM Group.

There are currently only 300 category 1 suppliers from BAM’s 14,000-strong database of contractors, and Finley’s operations manager Jim Graham says it would be a huge feather in the cap for the Aycliffe company.

“Just to be in discussions with BAM about becoming a category A supplier is a great achievement,” said Graham.

“It’s not just ticking a box, it’s a formal agreement, a legally-binding contract which is not a very quick process.

“But it’s recognition for your company, its values and performance, and as a family-run business from the North-East we’re delighted to have this recognition.”

After working on a number of projects for BAM in recent years, Graham insists it’s the two company’s shared values which make it a perfect fit.

He added: “They’re quite unique in that BAM isn’t following a UK mode, it’s a Dutch model with a parent company from the Netherlands, where aggression is frowned upon.

“They’re very open and they expect you to be the same, so we have matching values of honesty and fair play.

“They follow our ethos, which is about getting value for money. They want to perform with their clients, their clients like them because of their attitude and they’re finding they’re getting a lot of repeat business because of the way they approach the end-user.

“We’ve now done a number of projects for them which is why we’re standing out to them now.”

The University of Lincoln is investing a total of £19m to create the Sarah Swift Building, named after Dame Sarah Swift, nurse and founder of the College of Nursing (now the Royal College of Nursing), who was born in Kirton Skeldyke, South Lincolnshire.

The building will bring the whole School of Health & Social Care together in one location for the first time, replacing its existing facilities in the Think Tank and Bridge House.

It will include advanced clinical simulation facilities for the School’s Nursing programmes, as well as tutorial, social learning and office space for the School’s students and staff. The building will also collocate the whole School of Psychology for the first time, replacing the School’s existing facilities in the Minerva Building and Bridge House.

Finley Structures has recently completed a 2,600-tonne project for Sir Robert McAlpine at the Victoria Gate retail development in Leeds and is currently working on a 1,900-tonne contract for C Spencer at the Energy Works Power Plant, a new energy-from-waste (EfW) plant, in Hull.

Finley Structures has boosted its management team with three key appointments as the company goes on a recruitment drive.

The family steel firm has appointed Kelly Vasey in a new role as management accountant, Stuart Baxter as safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ) manager and Alan Bailey as welding inspector.

The firm’s joint managing director Julie Raistrick says they are three crucial roles for the firm as it looks to take on more staff this year.

The new arrivals have already boosted numbers to 71, while Finley Structures are still looking to take on another quantity surveyor and a site supervisor.

“It’s an exciting time for the company in terms of new faces coming in,” she said.

“We’re bringing in a new level of expertise and experience which we haven’t had before and it will help to tighten some sides of the business up and make us more streamlined.

“We’ve had a hugely positive three years in terms of turnover and now we’re looking to use that success by building for the future.”

Kelly, 33, (below, left, with Julie) is from Shildon and is fully-qualified through the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

She worked in practice from 2002–2006 and qualified in 2008 whilst at Mech-Tool Engineering, becoming management accountant, before holding financial controller roles with Hertel’s oil and gas division at Wynyard and Catterick IT services provider Razorblue before joining Finley Structures.

“The size of the company appealed to me,” said Kelly. “It’s a very similar sized company as one of my previous employers, it’s local and is successful.”

Stuart, 47, from Durham (top picture, right), originally trained in body shop repair but now has several years’ experience in health and safety roles with Hashimoto (now Faltec) in Boldon, De La Rue at Team Valley and SNOP in Washington.

He said: “This is a new challenge for me and a good career move.

“I’ve been in manufacturing production environments for a lot of years, but here they have the site aspect of the business, which is something that’s new to me.

“From a safety point of view, it’s a different environment out on the sites to what I’m used to, but it’s a good role for me because it’s stretching me and is giving me a different level of experience all together.”

Alan, 46, from Shildon, joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) from school and served his time as a metalsmith, spending several years in the forces before joining Evenwood engineering as a team leader.

He then spent a number of years as a welding inspector with a structural steel company and GT Project Engineering in Consett before heading to Aycliffe.

“It’s a new position for Finley Structures so I’m defining the role as it is, which is a great challenge” said Alan.

“I’m looking forward to implementing my ideas. I’m a very lean-thinking sort of person and I like to streamline operations as much as possible, and I’m already enjoying it very much.”

Finley Structures is investing in the future with the appointment of two new graduates.

The steel firm has appointed Natalie Chewter as assistant quantity surveyor, and Tom Radcliffe as a graduate structural engineer.

Natalie, 22, from Spennymoor, graduated from Northumbria University with a degree in Geography before going on to take a two-year distance learning Masters in quantity surveying while working with Finley Structures.

Working under the firm’s commercial manager Diane Ruston, the former Tudhoe Grange School and Durham Sixth Form College student has already been working on exciting new structures, including a University Technical College in Scarborough and the Sir Isaac Newton building at the University of Lincoln.

“I’m really enjoying the variety of tasks that I do within the role, and I’ve recently began working on some of my own projects which is exciting,” said Natalie.

“I’ve always wanted to work within the built environment, it was just a case of fine-tuning what I wanted to do.”

Tom is a former Longfield School student from Darlington and graduated from Teesside University in 2014 with a degree in civil engineering, after studying A-level Maths, Physics and Biology at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington.

Working under senior structural engineer Steve Sandford, Tom has already worked on a number of projects including the Sarah Swift building at the University of Lincoln, a Skyline project at Heathrow Airport and Abbotsfield School in Hillingdon, London.

The 22-year-old, who plans to take his Masters in civil and structural engineering, said: “I’ve always enjoyed Maths and sciences so I have wanted to be an engineer from quite an early age. It’s something I have always found interesting.

“I saw some of the work Finley Structures had done, some of the high-profile jobs like Hitachi Rail Europe and Redcar Pier – landmark, iconic buildings – so I saw it as an exciting place to work.”

Finley Structures joint managing director Julie Raistrick added: “We’re delighted with both appointments and pleased to see them settling in to their new roles quickly.

“It’s important that we look to bring young people into the construction industry.

“There’s a skills set which will weaken in the years ahead and it’s important that we try to bring the younger generation through.”

Finley Structures is helping York University to redevelop its biology school with a state-of-the-art new building.

Finley’s helped to complete the first phase of the new Biomedical Sciences building, which opened in December 2014.

And now the Aycliffe steel firm has been awarded a contract from Interserve Construction to fabricate 270 tonnes of steel as part of the second phase of the university’s £7.5m redevelopment.

The university’s striking new science block was officially opened by Government Chief Scientific Advisor Sir Mark Walport.

It contains teaching and IT laboratories for the Biomedical Science degree, a joint programme of the Biology Department and the Hull York Medical School.

The building also houses facilities for students in the new School of Natural Sciences, who started new courses in October 2015.

It represents the first phase of the redevelopment of the university’s Biology department.

Finley Structures has won another major contract at Japanese firm Nissan’s expanding North-East car manufacturing plant.

The family-run steel firm was awarded an 836-tonne contract from Sir Robert McAlpine to work on the new press shop at the Washington site.

It comes after Finley Structures completed the steel frame for Nissan’s new factory which is now manufacturing its new Infiniti range, as part of a 1,300-tonne contract.

This latest project for McAlpine involved constructing a 22 metre-tall press shop and panel store covering 6,300 square metres of floor area.

Finley Structures had to fabricate 38-metre clear span trusses and 1,800mm-deep plate girder crane beams as part of the complex operation.

“It’s a very difficult, challenging project, as we’re having to erect the structure around a very large excavation area,” says Finley’s operations manager Jim Graham.

“But it continues to showcase our capability as a major fabricator – and we’re delighted to be working with Sir Robert McAlpine again on what is another high-profile and important contract for the region.”

Finley had previously erected two buildings, involving a total of more than 1,300 tonnes of steel, for Nissan’s Infiniti factory – part of Nissan’s £250m investment at Sunderland.

Jim added: “We secured this latest contract from McAlpine under very strong competition, so we had to demonstrate a strong market value.

“This latest appointment demonstrates our continued focus on value for money with both McAlpine and Nissan.”

Finley Structures last year announced it saw turnover climb £3.1m to £16.4m after a string of major contract wins.

During that time, the steel fabrication firm also took on eight new employees – boosting staff numbers to 68.

Finley Structures fabricated and erected 2,000 tonnes of steel which makes up the frame for Hitachi Rail Europe’s new £82m train-assembling factory on Aycliffe Business Park.

The firm has also worked on a 2,300-tonne project at the Victoria Gate shopping centre in Leeds – a deal worth close to £4m – while it also worked on the 500-tonne Sports Village in Middlesbrough and a 300-tonne frame for the £38m National Biologics Centre in Darlington.

In addition, Finley Structures completed a 500-tonne project for Teesside University and a 620-tonne contract for the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing and Research Centre (AMRC) and several school new builds for Galliford Try.

The family firm has also won a number of other new contracts, including a 600-tonne contract for McLaughlin & Harvey at Heathrow and a 600-tonne contract for BAM Construction at Lincoln University, a 270-tonne project for Interserve at York University’s Biomed Building, a 600-tonne contract at Navigation Park in Enfield for A&H Construction and a 430-tonne job for Sir Robert McAlpine at Workington Academy in Cumbria to round-up a busy year.

Finley Structures has been recognised for a hugely-successful year in business.

The family steel firm was named Company of the Year at Aycliffe Business Park’s Make Your Mark awards ceremony, held at the Xcel Centre.

Finley Structures, which is based in the former British Steel factory on Aycliffe Business Park, beat off competition from Hitachi, Gestamp Tallent, Samwon, Baltic Training Services and Caring Caretaker to scoop the top prize at Wednesday night’s bash.

Finley Structures announced a record turnover year in 2015, with sales growing to £16.4m – up from £10m four years ago.

High-profile contracts, including Hitachi Rail Europe’s new facility, also included a new 1,400-tonne factory for Nissan at Washington, a 2,300-tonne project at the Victoria Gate shopping centre in Leeds, the 500-tonne Sports Village in Middlesbrough and a 300-tonne frame for the £38m National Biologics Centre in Darlington.

Finley Structures also completed a 500-tonne project for Teesside University and a 620-tonne contract for the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing and Research Centre (AMRC) to round-up a busy year.

The company was launched by John Finley in 2000 and was originally based at the former NCB Works in Tursdale near Bowburn with 20 staff.

It was only when, during a chance drive-by in 2002, the opportunistic John spotted the 87,000 sq ft factory, once home to British Steel, being emptied by its tenants at the time, Alexander-le-Skerne, that he stopped by to have a look.

“We were outgrowing our site at Tursdale and were looking to relocate,” says John.

“It was just by chance I drove down Whinbank Road one day and saw it being emptied, so I just went in for a look around, and I remember thinking to myself ‘I can see Finley Structures thriving in here’.

“We eventually did the deal to buy the building and moved in. We invested £250,000 in the place in 2003 so it was a lot of money for us back then, and the business started to grow.

“I initially thought we would rent part of the building out to help pay the bills but we quickly started to fill it out and before long we were looking to expand again. We then bought other adjoining buildings in 2010 and our sister company, SCH Site Services, relocated there in order to grow and is now thriving in its own right.”

Finley Structures is a truly family-run firm. John’s wife Valerie is a company director and was a part-time receptionist until retiring in December, while daughter Julie is joint-managing director and son Gary is joint-managing director of SCH Site Services.

Combined, the two companies employ 104 people, while the new family venture, ROF 59 – an activity centre which was also named Newcomer of the Year on Wednesday night – employs a further 30 staff.

After building a firm which has grown in stature and profile and created employment for local people, John says picking up both awards is a career highlight.

The 63-year-old, originally from Esh Winning who now lives in Spennymoor, added: “We’re a family firm but I’d like to thank all our staff, because we wouldn’t be where we are now without them and the brilliant work they do for us.

“It is a team effort, so we’re absolutely thrilled for all our employees to win these awards. It’s testament to many years of hard work, endeavour and determination.

“I’d also like to thank HSBC for the fantastic support they have given us over the years. Today we’re virtually debt-free, but previously we were turned down by a bank we’d been with for 10 years when we needed cash to invest in acquiring property to expand. If it wasn’t for HSBC we wouldn’t have been able to invest in the buildings and in new machinery, so we wouldn’t be where we are today.

“Winning big contracts is an achievement and getting the Hitachi project from Shepherd Construction was, of course, a highlight and major boost for the company in terms of profile, but in all my years in business these are our first awards, so I am very proud.”

The Company of the Year award, sponsored by Business Durham, was presented to the Finleys by Councillor Neil Foster, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration.

“I’m delighted for Finley Structures as a local family firm which has achieved a lot not only in the last year but over several years,” said Cllr Foster.

“It’s important that we celebrate our success stories with business awards like Make Your Mark and it’s brilliant to see Aycliffe Business Park thriving as it is. It’s really leading the way for County Durham.”

• Other Make Your Mark winners included Baltic Training (Apprenticeships), Formula Plastics (Engineering and Manufacturing), Lostbox (Innovation), Beaumont Grounds Maintenance (Service), Tekmar Energy (Export), Luke Reynolds, Gregg Little Testing Centre (Apprentice), ROF 59 (Newcomer), Workshop Supplies (Small Business), Caring Caretaker (Employer) and Newton Press (Heart of the Community).