TRG Wind, a wind turbine support company, has chosen Hull as the base for its European offshore operations.
The company has already added three technical staff to its team since opening an office at The Deep Business Centre earlier this month.
Managing Director David Elcombe said the availability of experienced people plus the close links to the continent were key to the decision to move to Hull, where the investment by some of the biggest names in the industry will support his ambitious growth plans. “We launched the business in 2014 and our turnover was just under £1.5 million last year. Even if we don’t get any more orders we expect to be up to about £4 million this year,” he said.
TRG Wind provides wind turbine technicians and supervisory services to wind turbine manufacturers and operators. From a handful of people based in Bromley the business expanded to build a team of nearly 40, two of whom have set up the Hull operation. Further recruitment is planned as TRG Wind expands its services and builds on a customer base of four major manufacturers in 18 countries, the company said.
“Most of the work is onshore but the move to Hull will change that. We expect it to be half and half very soon. We are also looking to do more work with pre-assembly of components and we want to develop the industry here with local people in mind,” Elcombe said.
TRG Wind’s presence in Hull is led by Jim Overton, a former apprentice with Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA) who has the contacts to develop the Humber workforce.
He said: “Hull’s port facilities were a big factor in our decision to come here, as was the presence of the growing renewables sector. Added to that, a lot of people round here have worked offshore, which makes it less of a stretch for them to work in our business.”