A serial entrepreneur who helped to create three of the North East’s most innovative companies has announced his retirement, after a career spanning more than half a century.
Dr Tony Trapp has decided to retire following the recent acquisition of his company Osbit, where he was executive chairman, by Venterra Group.
The 75-year-old has spent his career using his expertise to pioneer the world of subsea trenching for the telecoms, oil and gas, and renewable energy industries having started out with a PhD in agricultural engineering at Newcastle University.
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He built and led three hugely successful offshore engineering companies in the North East, namely Wallsend based Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD) which he co-founded in the 1970s, The Engineering Business in the late 1990s – which was later renamed IHC Engineering after its acquisition by Royal IHC – and Northumberland based Osbit in 2010.
Osbit – name after its mission to be ‘On Spec, Budget and In Time’ – employs more than 120 people across its Riding Mill and Port of Blyth sites, designing and manufacturing machinery that can be used in the oil and gas, subsea and renewables sectors.
Its success led to Mr Trapp being named in the 2019 Maserati 100 list as one of the 海角视频’s top innovators.
A fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, in 2017 he was awarded the MBE for services to the engineering and energy industries, and in 2020, he was presented with Subsea 海角视频’s Outstanding Contribution to the Subsea Industry award.
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Mr Trapp also has honorary doctorate degrees from Newcastle and Northumbria universities, and he was also named North East Business Executive of the Year in 2008, while leading IHC Engineering.
He said: “I have hugely enjoyed my 55-year engineering career, starting out with Alan Reece as my BSc Tutor and PhD supervisor at Newcastle University, then five years lecturing at Edinburgh University, and subsequently developing subsea vehicles in the oil and gas and telecoms revolutions. I am delighted to have helped lead three North East England engineering companies, which all became world leaders in their fields.
“A common thread in my career has been the pleasure of working with many truly exceptional people, watching them grow and flourish. It is great to see the Osbit sale proceeds shared with almost all Osbit staff.
“Nothing lasts for ever, and I now hand over to the team at Osbit and Venterra. The sale of Osbit to Venterra is a success for everyone and I will watch, with anticipation, as it all develops.
“Venterra executive chairman Ayman and his team have exciting plans, and I am hugely impressed by the vision and energy that he has inspired in the group. I hope that Osbit and Venterra make a huge impact in the global offshore wind market as it grows and matures.”
Non-executive directors Steve Agar, Rosamund Blomfield-Smith, and Terry Courtney have now also left the Osbit board. Joint managing directors Brendon Hayward and Robbie Blakeman will continue to lead Osbit, along with existing directors Steve Bedford and Ivan Todd who will be joined by several colleagues.
Mr Blakeman and Mr Hayward said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank Tony for his hugely valuable contribution, not only to Osbit, but to North East England, and the global offshore engineering industry as a whole.
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“From helping to develop subsea burial and growing multiple North East engineering businesses, to delivering highly innovative offshore wind systems, Tony has made a truly unique and global impact in his career. The strong foundations and special culture Tony helped to build at Osbit remain essential to our continued success, as we move forward.
“Tony and the departing directors leave the business in great shape for continued growth, with a strong brand in offshore energy, a youthful, dynamic culture and an impressive track-record for innovative engineering delivered On Spec, Budget and In Time.
"Venterra will support Osbit to become a significant player in the transition to renewable energy.
“These are very exciting times for Osbit, Venterra Group, and the global offshore wind industry. Wind energy is key to our future, and Osbit has the world-leading expertise to deliver the equipment needed.
"We are already working very closely with our new colleagues to realise our shared vision of helping to accelerate the world’s energy transition through wind power.”
Venterra CEO and Osbit statutory board member Rob Jewkes added: “Tony Trapp pioneered technology which is now crucial to the offshore wind industry. He built a great company in Osbit and we’re proud that it has joined Venterra as one of our first member companies, working to support the offshore wind industry and help it play a significant role in the energy transition.”
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