Unit Engineers and Constructors

6. Unit Engineers and Constructors

Engineering company | Established in 2004

Based in Pembrokeshire and Swansea and the fastest growing firm in Wales in 2009, Unit Engineers and Constructors Ltd currently employs 286 people. The company is involved in a range of different functions related to the oil and gas industry. These include prefabrication and installation of pipe and steelwork, construction of process plant and refinery maintenance. In support of these capabilities, the company has a highly-motivated team of project managers, engineers and supervisors leading a workforce of directly employed skilled craftsmen to undertake projects of all sizes within the oil and petrochemical, gas, power and other major industries. Current customers include major firms such as Total, Murco, Chevron, British Gas and Exxon. As a venture, Unit has exceeded its projections for turnover and profitability for the last 12 months and the major challenge has been the recruiting of sufficiently skilled labour. It has also been a challenge to manage cash flow within working capital facilities whilst the marketplace remains highly competitive.

343.8% growth between 2007 and 2009

Origins

The company was established in 2004 to take advantage of the opportunities for business growth in the oil, gas and power sectors in the West Wales area. Other motivations included creating employment in a traditionally deprived area and challenging national companies in generating work within the local community. As with all start ups, Unit faced challenges in raising sufficient finance to support potential growth, attracting skilled labour, and obtaining professional accreditation to enable the company to meet pre-qualification standards for quality and safety. It also had to obtain support to purchase vital equipment to develop the business, having been refused grant aid by the relative Government department.

Our main challenges when starting the business

The main challenges were raising sufficient finance to support potential growth; attracting skilled labour; obtaining professional accreditation to enable the company to meet pre-qualification standards for quality and safety; and getting support to purchase vital equipment to develop the business, having been refused grant aid by the relative Government department.

Success Factor

The company has achieved success by targeting major projects, ensuring inclusion on clients’ bid lists by pre-qualifying at the early stages of a project and building on opportunities once established, by producing a quality product delivered on time and within budget.

The Future

Over the next five years, the company aims to expand group turnover to £50m profitably through acquisition and expanding product lines, maximise market share in the power sector in the next fifteen years and developing its reputation within the growing nuclear industry to maximise opportunities that will arise.