Merseyside entrepreneur targets £2m turnover for newly acquired maritime firm Wren Engineering

An entrepreneur in Merseyside has acquired maritime business Wren Industrial & Marine Fabrications.

Jonathan Willoughby bought Bootle-based Wren Engineering from husband and wife team David and Helen Wren, who have stood at the helm for 27 years.

The firm manufactures doors, windows and hatches for ships and boats, in addition to providing welding and fabrication services primarily in the maritime sector.

Wren’s client base includes the Royal Navy, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and ferry companies Stena and the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

New owner Jonathan, who is a former member of the Armed Forces and also runs welding and fabrication business Yorkwall Engineering in Ellesmere Port, plans to use his 25 years’ experience in the oil and gas sector to double the company’s £1m turnover in the next 12 months.

He said: “Wren has a really strong reputation in the maritime industry, particularly on Merseyside, for the quality of its work and its dedication to customer service.

“My aim is to now build on that bedrock and grow Wren’s client base and brand nationally and internationally.”

Jonathan said his acquisition of Wren forms part of a wider strategy to buy additional complementary engineering companies. Eventually, he plans to merge them all under a single brand.

He continued: “My existing company Yorkwall specialises in fabrication services for the petrochemical sector, buying Wren Engineering diversifies our operations into maritime which helps protect and grow our group operations.

“This is a really exciting time for our team and we see the group on an upward trajectory with considerable potential for sustainable growth. We are planning more acquisitions over the next 12 months.”

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