Teesside engineers receive “major boost” to ambitions to double workforce

Lynas Engineers has been successful in its bid to become one of a small number of companies appointed to the frameworks of the North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO).

That means the door is now open for the business to win a slice of the contracts, totalling “many millions of pounds”, which are awarded every year by NEPO on behalf of the region’s 12 local authorities.

Not only is Lynas Engineers one of the smallest companies to be selected, it has also been successfully appointed in two lots: Highways and Transportation and Flooding, Drainage and Coastal.

Managing director Rob Lynas, who set up the consultancy with three colleagues in 2016 after they were made redundant, commented: “This is hugely important for us and was the focus of months of hard work last year. Finding out the decision was stomach-churning, just like checking your exam results.”

“It’s the springboard we’ve been looking for. NEPO opens up a brand new market for us because it was difficult to get local government work before.”

Lynas Engineers, which is based at the Wilton Centre near Redcar, already employs 12 people, including non-executive director Derek Smith who is a former head of highways and transport at South Tyneside and brings his skills and contacts to an “already successful” team.

That combination, alongside the successful NEPO bid and a rapidly growing track record, means Lynas Engineers is confident of reaching this year’s turnover target of £1.1m and a doubling of revenue and staff by 2026.

Even though the company has been trading for less than seven years it has already secured a number of high-profile contracts. These have included the design of the “innovative throughabout” to improve the A66/A171 Cargo Fleet Junction.

As well as requiring evidence showing the ability to deliver a high standard of work at a competitive price, NEPO also took into consideration the social value delivered by the companies competing for places on its frameworks.

Since its formation Lynas Engineers has made a priority of helping young Teessiders. That has seen it become an active member of the High Tide charity, run virtual lessons during COVID to enthuse young people about engineering and, from the outset, recruit apprentices to build the business.

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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