Member Article

£1m US contracts win for Washington firm

A Washington manufacturing company has won USA contracts worth over £1m and is bolstering its finance department to support buoyant sales abroad.

TRM Group, which makes mineral insulated trace heating and temperature measurement products, has won projects in the United States supplying their products to the latest generation of solar thermal power stations. This new, innovative way of using TRM’s products is expected to bring in more large contracts in the near future from new markets such as Brazil, Africa and the Middle East.

To support the growth, the firm has appointed Naomi Hartley, 20, from Birtley, as accounts assistant, through Chester-le-Street based Access Training.

Naomi is the third generation of apprentice in TRM’s accounts department. Naomi’s manager, financial controller Michael Fitzpatrick, is a former apprentice, as is his boss, Gemma Souter, who have both worked their way up and are now progressing through CIMA qualifications with support from Access.

TRM Group, founded in 2001, comprises three companies - MICC, TRM and TET - and employs 80 people. It is the UK’s only manufacturer of mineral insulated heating and thermoelectric wiring cables.

The Washington firm, which was started by four former managers of Hebburn company BICC, has three Washington factories and other plants in India, China and Canada.

TRM supply a wide range of industries including oil & gas, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, transport, engineering and chemical. Specialising in working in hazardous areas, the company supplies all of the UK’s nuclear power stations.

Managing director, Doug Dooley, said: “The continued growth of our business via our successful global export activities is providing a secure and stable future for our employees. Our apprentices are our future so we are continually investing in staff training tailored to the individual’s current needs and future aspirations.”

Managing director of Access Training, Malcolm Armstrong said: “TRM Group is committed to apprenticeships because they see the real benefits they bring over time. The company is in such an exciting stage of development; the apprentices we have placed there are thriving.”

Access Training recently announced the acquisition of Durham Training which has a training centre in Chester-le-Street. Access works with 1,000 learners and over 200 local businesses each year.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jill Farmer (Dobson) .