A civil engineering firm which specialises in marine construction is poised for growth after opening a new head office in Gateshead.
Southbay Civil Engineering has been based in North Tyneside for almost 20 years, but has made the move to new headquarters at Moongate House, Team Valley, to help accommodate an expanding workforce and a growing pipeline of projects.
Its clients include the Port of Tyne Authority, Shepherd Offshore, North Shields Fish Quay Company and Brett Aggregates, as well local authorities, harbour commissions, RNLI and petrochemical firms such as Exolum and Conocophillips.
The firm has signed a 10-year lease on the 6,000 sqft office to help accommodate an expanding workforce and a growing pipeline of projects.
Southbay, which has signed a 10-year lease on the 6,000 sqft office, employs a team of sixty staff and it has recently recruited six new staff within its commercial, estimating and marketing departments in addition to creating two apprenticeship positions.
Managing director Paul Stephenson believes the investment in high-quality office space will provide an ideal platform for further growth. He said: “Moongate House offers us the ideal location and specification to provide an attractive and collaborative working environment for our highly skilled team and to ensure we are well-placed to attract more high-calibre individuals.
“The ongoing growth in the renewable energy sector has led to a great deal of new investment in harbours and ports across the Ƶ to accommodate new offshore wind facilities. As wind turbine construction increases in size and quantity, port infrastructure also must be developed, so our skills and expertise are in high demand.”
Previously based at Cumberland Road in North Shields, Southbay specialises in marine civil engineering projects including the design and build of quaysides and jetties, as well as the construction and repair of other coastal structures.
The firm is currently delivering repair works to Roker Pier in Sunderland, South Shields Pier, North Shields Pier, and the North Shields Ferry Landing in North Tyneside. On Teesside Southbay is currently upgrading the Redcar bulk terminal at Teesworks and other live projects are taking place at Frindsbury in Kent and Pembrokeshire, South Wales.
Southbay’s operations director, Antony Ballantyne, added: “We are a North East business which has grown organically over the past 20 years to establish a reputation as one of the Ƶ’s leading maritime civil engineering contractors. Our investment in new premises, recruitment, training and technology means we are well placed to take a big step forward in our new home at Moongate House.
“Traditionally, our work is a mixture of repairs to old quayside structures and the construction of new facilities, however we have certainly seen our workload in harbours and ports grow in recent years. Our clients are spending their money wisely by maintaining their existing assets but also investing in new marine infrastructure.”
