Member Article

£10m contracts create jobs in the North West

A string of deals worth up to £10 million is creating growth and jobs with utilities infrastructure specialist, Fastflow Energy Services (FES).

The Warrington based business – which is part of the Fastflow Group – has secured four contracts on the National Grid’s asset health programme and another as a Tier 2 Framework partner on the capital investment initiative.

It also beat off stiff competition to win the high profile Heads of Valley A465 gas pipeline diversion project near Tredegar with Wales and West Utilities on behalf of the Welsh Assembly.

In addition, there are two further tranches of work with the Northern Gas Network.

FES was launched in 2012 to undertake upgrading and diversion works on the gas transmission and distribution system, as well as security improvement projects on both gas and electricity sites. It had 20 employees.

Today it provides work for over 120 people and continues recruitment as more work bids are submitted. Turnover this year (2014/15) is forecast to be £12 million.

Said Tony Cottrell, FES Managing Director: “This marks a fantastic end to a very successful financial year and puts the business in a strong position to exceed the turnover targets set when it was established less than three years ago.

“We anticipate that work on the nation’s gas and electricity networks will continue to grow over the next few years and we are extremely well placed to secure a significant proportion of this as an approved supplier to the asset owners.

“This will create further job opportunities, not just at our Cheshire offices but in all parts of the country where we secure projects.”

The National Grid contracts are split between two frameworks. Asset health projects include: excavations to allow pipeline repairs at 23 sites, improvements to facility access roads at 16 sites; the installation of new equipment at 11 sites in England, Scotland and Wales and civil works at the Caldecott above ground gas installation.

The Tier 2 Framework contract involves a 390 metre diversion of an intermediate pressure pipeline at Lancaster, which incorporates a 36 metre micro tunnel beneath the A6 road.

The Heads of Valley work comprises two major pipeline diversions, while the Northern Gas Network programmes involve a 550 metre diversion of the 6“ Catterick to Thrintoft high pressure pipeline to accommodate the widening of the A1 and the upgrading of the Asselby Offtake, near Goole in Yorkshire.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Dobbie .