Member Article

New jobs in the pipeline as Barrier Group acquires A-Belco

Wallsend-based Barrier Group has acquired assets from Ashington manufacturer A-Belco Ltd, which went into administration earlier in November this year.

The Group, which which was founded in 1975 to serve the oil and gas sector, plans to create around 10 jobs, including recruiting a number from A-Belco.

Assets secured from A-Belco Ltd’s hazardous area operations will be utilised to expand the group’s growing Barrier-Ex division, which provides specialist technology to industries dealing with potentially explosive atmospheres.

In addition, Barrier Group has secured assets from one of the firm’s engineering divisions.

As a result, Barrier aims to create a new division within the group, which will complement its recently-established Barrier LED business that supplies, installs and maintains specialist lighting systems to industrial and commercial premises.

The new division will be led by Steven Lee, who is managing director of Barrier-Ex Ltd and also oversees Barrier LED.

He has most recently secured the services of two former A-Belco Ltd employees, Matthew Gibbard who will join the newly-created division and Steve Baron, who will join Barrier Ex.

These appointments follow the recruitment of former A-Belco employees, Tony Oram, Martyn Chapple and Jason Hamilton who joined Barrier in the past couple of months.

In addition to its hazardous area activities, the group delivers passive fire protection, metal spraying, Insulation, HVAC, Architectural Services and subsea insulation.

It has also invested in an industrial rubber products company and a specialist technical training provider, both of which are also based in the North East.

Steven Lee said: “The acquisition of these assets will enhance the scope of Barrier’s capabilities and lead to the creation of new jobs.

“A-Belco Ltd had a very skilled and experienced workforce and we are delighted to welcome two members of their team into the business immediately.

“We aim to be able to offer further employment opportunities in the near future, which we hope will attract applications from other former A-Belco Ltd employees.”

Robert Bowles, Chairman of the Barrier Group, said: “It was disappointing to hear about A-Belco Ltd, which has been an important part of the North East supply chain for a number of years.

“However, a number of its operations are complementary to our activities and has presented the opportunity to grow our position in new and existing markets.”

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