A multi-utility service connections company that has significantly increased turnover year on year, is now looking to expand further after becoming the latest tenant at Harworth Group’s Lynefield Park development.
PWG Connections has relocated from Amble to larger, customised commercial premises at Harworth’s multi-million pound industrial site at Lynemouth, Northumberland, once home to Alcan, the former aluminium smelter plant. The move supports ambitious expansion plans that could see the company triple its turnover in the next five years as well as deliver new UK-wide, service infrastructure contracts within the education, healthcare and transport sectors.
Established in 2011, the firm is currently one of the region’s fastest-growing, independent utilities companies providing electricity, water and gas connections to homebuilders, civil engineering organisations, local authorities and private domestic customers throughout the UK. Current clients include Taylor Wimpey, Northern Gas Metworks, ESP, Sir Robert McAlpine, Balfour Beatty, Integral and Nissan.
PWG employs 25 staff including three apprentices, but is now looking to the future, in particular, growing the business from its new HQ at Lynefield Park, providing new job opportunities for local people and widening its network of infrastructure connection teams.
Managing Director of PWG, Paul Groves, explained:
“For years, national utility companies had a monopoly in the market, controlling everything from constructing the infrastructure assets through to supplying the utilities. However, since the industry was opened up to increased competition by the Government, a small number of companies like us have been able to carve a distinct niche in the sector by positioning ourselves just below the bigger organisations but, in contrast, supplying a very bespoke, customer-focused utility connections service.
“What started as a one-man band has now grown to a 25-strong company to meet continuous demand, not just here in the North East but across the country. This meant that we were rapidly in need of larger premises, and not wanting to relocate out of the area or Northumberland, Lynefield Park was ideal strategically, commercially and in terms of access to main transport links.
“We’ve now leased 3,500 sq ft of industrial space with maiand storage yard, with the potential to increase this further depending upon the needs of the business going forward. This is ten times more accommodation than we had previously. We’re now a multi-million pound company very much looking to the future, especially in terms of growing the workforce and providing new employment opportunities as and when possible. We’re also very keen to bring new talent into the industry therefore we’re also considering new apprenticeship opportunities for young people locally. It’s an exciting time for the business and one that could see us deliver significant projects for major new clients operating in new industries.”
PWG Connections is the latest tenant to move to Lynefield Park, a 175 acre brownfield site that could become a real catalyst to regenerate the area. Earmarked for major development by Harworth Group, it could provide a strategic industrial gateway to the wider South East Northumberland region, already home to some of the region’s key employers including AkzoNobel, Bernicia and Lynemouth Power Station.
Eddie Peat, Corporate Director North East of Harworth Group added:
“Given the large organisations and global brands that are already located close by, it has always been Harworth’s long-term vision to develop a strategic industrial zone for the area which in turn would attract further inward investment. As well as our long-standing tenants and the new occupiers which we have recently welcomed onsite, Lynefield Park also lends itself to large-scale manufacturing which would significantly drive employment up and further benefit the local communities, the North East and the wider economy.
“We’re delighted that PWG Connections has become our latest tenant and with interest in the site high, we hope to announce more in the very near future.”
Close to main road, rail and sea transport links, Lynefield Park includes 1.3m sq ft of brownfield land for development with planning permission for four industrial zones.