A FIRM that is providing work for more than 170 skilled North-East bricklayers has secured a cash injection that will help create 40 new jobs. 

Brickwork Services Limited, based in Hartlepool, is now investing more than £100,000 in development and UK Steel Enterprise has contributed a £50,000 unsecured loan towards the package.

The company already numbers Yuill Homes, Taylor Wimpey, Miller Homes, Keepmoat and the Esh Group amongst its clients. Despite the recent downturn in the sector, it said it has contracts worth millions of pounds in place, many of them guaranteeing work for the next few years. 

Brickwork Services was started in 2004 by Steve Willis,using the expertise, experience and contacts he built up after 30 years working in the industry.

The company specialises in providing bricklayers and building services to the construction sector but has also established Pro-Active Safety Solutions, a separate division that is successfully providing consultancy and training in health, safety and environmental issues. 

“I am very grateful to UK Steel Enterprise for committing to an investment that is really important for the next stage of our development,” said Mr Willis.  “It was proving impossible to get the finance we needed from other sources – no-one was interested because we are involved in the construction sector, despite our healthy order book.
“Industry professionals are now confirming my belief that the sector is showing definite signs of improvement and we are actively recruiting to find the additional teams of skilled bricklayers that we need to meet demand.” 

“Our insistence on the highest standards of workmanship and reliability and the fact that all our contracts are very closely supervised has meant we have built up a reputation for quality work and benefit from repeat orders,” said Mr Willis. “If companies are sure of getting a quality service that prevents losses from delays or re-working then they prefer to sub-contract. 

“With this latest investment and our management team of 14 now based in UK Steel Enterprise’s Innovation Centre in Hartlepool, the company is in a very good place to take immediate advantage of the up-turn,” he added. 

Simon Hamilton, the regional manager for UK Steel Enterprise, said: “Our bottom line is about helping to regenerate and create jobs in traditional steel areas so we have more flexibility than other lenders.

"Brickwork Services has a strong order book, highly professional management team and a reputation that has enabled them to grow well despite the recent difficulties in the sector.”