Steel specialist forges success under one roof

A County Durham engineering firm is streamlining its operations and building on decades of success with a new business model.

SCH Site Services, based in Newton Aycliffe, has adopted an ‘all under one roof’ approach, bringing every stage of its steel fabrication and installation process in-house. 

The company, which employs 42 people and operates from a 39,000sq ft facility, provides structural steelwork for the construction industry across the UK, with a strong presence in the North East.

Founded in the early 1990s as Spennymoor Crane Hire, SCH has evolved from a small fleet of cranes into one of the region’s leading independent fabrication specialists. 

In the last five years alone, it has completed around £20 million worth of projects across Teesside.

Its skilled workforce includes certified welders and in-house inspectors who carry out visual and non-destructive testing to ensure precision and safety. 

The firm also operates a state-of-the-art paint shop, enabling tailored surface treatments to meet specific project needs.

Managing director Gary Finley said: “What we quickly realised was that by offering a fully controlled service completely overseen by our team of experts, we had full control all the way from inception to completion. 

“It’s a service that not many fabricators offer but we think that by having that full control means there is transparency for the client and peace of mind throughout the entire project.”

Recent work includes delivering the structural steel package for the new Urgent Treatment Centre at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, working alongside Robertson Construction North East. 

The complex project required meticulous planning around a live hospital site, including proximity to an active helipad.

Gary added: “Clearly hospitals are very busy places 24 hours a day, so for us it was critical to minimise disruption for patients and staff but more importantly than that to also ensure their safety. 

“Because our expert teams were always on hand it meant we could plan and execute the construction dealing with any potential issues instantly with the client’s full knowledge and involvement.”

Despite recent challenges, SCH has maintained consistent revenues and repeat business over the past five years, with plans to expand its workforce as the company continues to grow under its unified, in-house model.

Gary added: “We are determined to make sure we keep the business strong and if the opportunity comes along to expand our workforce then this will be done organically through a strong order book and demand. 

“We will continue to look for, and recruit, the most experienced people in our industry as it’s our expertise and knowledge that I believe makes us stand out from the rest. 

“This is what our clients expect from us, a well organised and professional company that delivers a highly skilled service from day one to the end of a project.”

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