A Plymouth ship repairer has recorded the busiest year in its history and now has a pipeline of work worth more than £5m.
The SMS Group experienced a record 2021 and is aiming for more growth in 2022.
The firm – traditionally a ship repairer over its 64 year history – has invested in a team of industry professionals to establish, develop and deliver in the challenging interior outfit and marine refurbishment sector within the cruise industry.
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Dan Lockyer, who heads up the team, said: “2021 was our year. On the back of the Covid hiatus, and the industry restarting, we’ve achieved some phenomenal milestones.”
The SMS Group, which acquired Burgess Marine in 2017, employs more than 150 people. As well as a base in Devonport, it also has sites in Southampton, Lowestoft, Dover and Glasgow, Portsmouth, Poole and Bristol.
Mr Lockyer added: “Concurrent working, on multiple vessels, simultaneously, is now the norm. We’ve recruited new project management and estimating resources. We’ve worked globally. We’ve attracted new customers and supported old with their vessel reactivations. We’ve invested in new storage facilities, and we’ve expanded our supply chain.”
The company has completed cruise refit projects across Europe, currently has a further three superyacht projects “live” and four cruise projects under contract and in the planning/pre-deployment stages.
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With a pipeline in excess of £5m, Darren Smith, head of business development, said: “By staying true to our core values of ‘turnkey project management’, ‘value engineering’ and the ‘lifetime value of customer relationships’ we’ve genuinely benefitted as the industry has restarted.”
He added: “2022 is going to be so exciting for both the industry and our business. We’re still recruiting. We’re looking for new people to fulfil new roles. We’ve a serious pipeline, much of which is under contract and we’re really going to push for continued growth in 2022.”
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