AN HISTORIC Tees Valley engineering firm is positioning itself to be a "trailblazer" in the renewables sector after becoming the first in its field to secure important accreditation.

Francis Brown Ltd in Stockton is understood to be the first energy sector fabrication firm to secure a welding accreditation that has previously been held by the construction sector, but is increasingly sought by oil, gas and subsea companies. Achieving the accreditation is part of ambitious growth plans, with the company targeting an increase in its £5m turnover of around 70 percent within the next three to five years.

Jamie Brown, managing director of the 107-year-old firm, believed gaining ISO 3834, would put it at the forefront for contracts with oil and gas firms as well as the burgeoning renewable energy market.

Mr Brown said: "We have plans to grow the business, we have a fantastic team.

"This gives us something else recognising the skills we offer and should help facilitate that growth and, hopefully, create more jobs on the back of that.

"It helps with the renewables as well as new business from the oil and gas customer base.

"We are not the first company to get it, there are others but more in construction than renewables, oil, gas and subsea.

"BP has been one of the drivers pushing this quality standard, so we need to listen to what their requirements are and try to get ahead of the game."

Mr Brown said the company would target increased national and international business opportunities, particularly in Aberdeen where it has recently secured contracts on projects for companies including Technip, Expro and Subsea 7.

"We have always been involved in oil and gas but normally on Teesside so this is allowing us to broaden our horizons," Mr Brown said.

It comes as Francis Brown Ltd, which employs 60 people, has enjoyed recent renewable sector success, carrying out fabrication work on the Wave Hub system, for Hartlepool based JDR Cables, and sections of the huge Atlantis Tidal Turbine, for Newcastle firm SMD Mr Brown said: "I think we have the opportunity of a generation with these emerging and increasing markets.

"Track record is everything, everybody is cautious with new ways of doing things, but we would like to be trailblazers, get the track record quickly and that should bear fruit later."