A FAMILY-RUN specialist repair and maintenance company is completing thousands of pounds worth of work at one of the UK’s most iconic landmarks.

Darlington-based Stone Technical Services is already the only lightning conductor contractor approved to work at St Paul’s Cathedral in London and has worked with Clerk of Works for over 20 years on aspects such as maintenance and structure surveys.

Stone has recently been appointed to install safety systems which will allow access to the cornice and tri-forum levels, making it easier and safer for maintenance and conservation works to be carried out. 

Stone designed the safety systems using QBM Soter safety equipment for St Paul’s tri-forum level on the West front and also for the peripheral upper cornice some 300 feet high.

Stone Technical Services has grown to be a UK leader in high level and general maintenance, lightning protection, safety systems and historic restoration and renovation.

Last year growth surpassed managers’ expectations with turnover peaking at around £2m. The company opened a new Edinburgh office to add to its sites in London, Middlesex and Cheshire and its headquarters  on Kellaw Road in Darlington.

Already in 2013 Stone has created five new jobs, taking staff numbers to 35, and is on target to increase its workforce throughout the year.

Dave Stone, the firm's managing director, said: “Our work is now so varied- from smaller but vital jobs repairing windows, gutters, masonry or roofs to renovation and technical repairs at landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral.

"It’s a real honour to be entrusted to work on this type of structure as it is recognised and highly regarded all over the world. Our extensive skills portfolio and the way we work- with little or no disruption- have helped to cement our reputation as one of the UK’s leading businesses in this field and it is projects like this that are enabling us to grow and create new job opportunities.”