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Wind turbine construction at sea

Family business secures offshore wind farm deal

08 May 2017

Teesside headquartered business Francis Brown Ltd today announced expansion plans after securing a major new contract with funding/assistance from Barclays.

Family run business Francis Brown Ltd was established in 1903 and is now managed by 3rd and 4th generation father David Brown with sons Jamie and Simon. The rapidly expanding business is located at Hill Street East, Stockton on Tees and the business specialises in the provision of services to the chemical, oil and gas, renewables and nuclear industrial market. The ground breaking deal with Burnt Island Fabrications (Bifab) is to fabricate 26 of the steel Boat Landings for the wind turbines that will be located at the Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm.

Jamie Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Francis Brown Ltd said: “We’re thrilled to have secured this deal which will aid the construction of the Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm located in the Outer Moray Firth. The project is one of the largest private investments ever made in Scottish infrastructure and we’re proud to be part of the development. We’ve steadily grown the business organically over the generations and now have a highly skilled work force manufacturing for some of the UK’s most prestigious tidal, wind and subsea oil and gas projects. We recently expanded the work force taking on some former SSI workers and four apprentices in the process and it’s great that Barclays were able to help support us with this and a series of new contracts which will take us to the next phase of our growth plans.”

Francis Brown Ltd employ over 85 people locally working on internationally significant projects including the Atlantis MeyGen tidal turbines (pictured) and several highly innovative subsea developments that could shape the Power Industry for many years to come. Turnover for the current year with the new contracts is expected to exceed £7million.

Michael Wicks, Barclays Business Relationship Director put together the funding package for the deal and said: “It’s great to be able to support a local business that is thriving and expanding for the future and contributing to the local economy. This is an exciting new contract win for the business and confirms the professionalism and capability of this ambitious family business. David, Jamie, Simon, and the team are experts in their profession - and with the recent appointment of their internationally experienced Managing Director, Mark Roddy, the future looks very bright indeed for this Teesside business”.

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