North East engineering firm set to boost production with £1.4m grant

A North East engineering firm has acquired a new site with the help of a £1.4m grant signed off by the Tees Valley Mayor.

Wilton Universal Group, which works in the renewable energy, defence, logistics, offshore and oil and gas sectors, has acquired the site at Haverton Hill in a multimillion-pound deal with EEW Group

The 58-acre manufacturing facility, which sits alongside Wilton’s current Port Clarence base, will create a combined 112-acre site, with the potential for up to 200 new jobs at the firm.

The site will be used for projects in the clean energy sectors such as offshore wind, tidal and hydrogen, as well as a growing number defence contracts. The size of the site will also increase the firm’s logistics and storage capability.

Bill Scott OBE, chief executive of Wilton Universal Group, said: “This significant expansion of our facilities will create the capacity to secure more work in key markets.

“We have a strong pipeline of opportunities in the defence industry, but we are also confident that we can utilise this additional facility to deliver more complex fabricated structures for the offshore renewables sector, given the chance.

“This transaction also supports the long-term sustainability of our business and the role it has to play in Teesside’s exciting industrial future.”

Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor added: “This expansion is fantastic news and means that Wilton can go even further in securing work to support many of our key sectors, such as our ever-growing offshore sector.

“I’m delighted our grant could help Wilton go ahead with this game-changing expansion. Not only will it help the business grow, it will create 200 good-quality, well-paid jobs and act as a beacon for other businesses looking to invest in our Teesside Freeport, the biggest in the UK.”

Wilton Universal Group was further supported by finance from FW Capital and legal advice from Muckle LLP.