SCH Site Services has taken on 10 new employees after winning a raft of new contracts. SCH has added four new office staff, three new site employees and added three to its in-house fabrication team, boosting employee numbers to 45. SCH is working with McAlpine on projects at the Gates shopping centre in Durham, the Durham branch of City Electrical Factors in Meadowfield and the Student Union buildings at Leeds University. SCH has brought in Mark Reynolds as technical manager, Mike Dowson as trainee estimator, Brett Hartland as draughtsman and Steven Dykes as trainee draughtsman.
In addition, SCH has added one new painter, a new machine operator and a new plater/welder to its fabrication team as well as two erectors and one foreman to its site team. Managing director Gary Finley said although he’s still concerned about a skills shortage, and is still looking for good skilled staff, he’s happy with his recent recruitment boost. “We’re delighted with our recent additions to the team after trying very hard for a long time to get numbers up,” said Gary. “We experienced a slight dip in the middle of 2016 when, we dropped to around 35, but now we’re up to the biggest number of employees we’ve had since the company was formed 10 years ago.
“The skills shortage remains a concern and we’re continually looking for staff, both on site and in our fabrication team, but we’re certainly happy with the team we have together at the moment and we’re hopeful 2017 is going to be a positive year or us.” SCH is working with sister company Finley Structures at the Gates, managing the site and steel erection. Finley added: “It has been a very encouraging, busy period, especially for this time of the year. A lot of enquiries are coming in and a lot of jobs are being priced in the North-East, which is a positive sign. More projects are being awarded to SCH because of their ability to deliver complex work – getting steel into awkward places and in and around existing buildings and they are confident in winning more jobs this year. Formed in 2006, SCH first operated as a crane hire company with four mobile cranes and four drivers working for local companies, but it grew into steelwork and in 2011 recorded a turnover of £325,000.
After moving into new premises in 2012, sales grew to £2.2m and then £3.43m before hitting £4.1m in 2013, £4.1m in 2014 and £4.5m in 2015, while staff numbers have more than doubled to 47 in the last five years. As well as Sir Robert McAlpine, SCH include Hall Construction, B&K Structures, Wates Group, Interserve, Peikko and Balfour Beatty among its impressive client list. For more details about SCH, go to www.schsiteservices.co.uk or call them on 01325 327149.
Photo; Gary Finley (left) with (left to right) Mark Reynolds, Brett Hartland, Steven Dykes and Mike Dowson.
