South Tyneside is raising its profile with international businesses thanks to the emergence of a growing offshore ‘hub’ within the borough.
One Trinity Green, in South Shields, has seen the growth of a number of offshore businesses taking advantage of its mixed workspace and services as well as utilising the borough’s strong strategic location to boost their offshore sector.
The South Tyneside Council business centre, currently houses an array of international offshore businesses including: Catalage, Tilone, Magellan and McAusland Turner who have chosen the borough as their UK base.
Reece McAllister, Clients and Projects Director at Catalage, said: “Having extensively investigated the other options available across the North East, the incubation space at One Trinity Green was the ideal fit for our growing business.”
Catalage provides operational, strategic and commercial support for international offshore companies wanting to access the UK market as well as UK businesses looking to expand internationally.
In 2014 the firm moved into One Trinity Green and set up a UK office for Tilone Subsea Limited – a Nigerian based marine contracting, maintenance and repair (I.M.R.), subsea inspection, and engineering company. Tilone UK allows Tilone Nigeria to directly engage the supply chain market for support with its projects throughout Africa.
Reece McAllister added: “Our presence here at One Trinity Green enables us to attract international businesses within the oil and gas and offshore sectors into the borough. Tilone UK for example has flourished alongside us thanks to the fantastic wrap around support available at One Trinity Green, the borough’s exceptional transport links and its access to the to the world’s largest single market.”
“South Tyneside and the various facilities within the borough provides a perfect foundation for companies involved in the global ocean economy to thrive. We feel we are in a strong position thanks to the council’s support. Business incubators such as One Trinity Green feature strongly in our discussions with businesses wanting to access the UK market for technical spares and services.”
Neighbouring business Magellan opened its UK base at One Trinity Green in 2018. The international firm opened a UK office in the borough thanks to its pool of marine and subsea technology skills taught at South Shields Marine School – a global training provider for maritime, offshore and renewable sectors.
Richard Parkinson, Founder of Magellan, said: “The strength in Magellan’s strategic model is our ability to remain agile when pursuing growth opportunities. Our association with the facilities and services at One Trinity Green allows us the ability to increase our resources both as part of a measured plan as well as a transactional approach on a project to project basis.”
Magellan delivers deep and ultra-deep water subsea intervention activities utilising the latest remotely operated technologies. Its core onshore based support team in South Tyneside consists of five members specialising in; operations and logistics, asset management and subsea operations.
Richard added: “The support provided by South Tyneside Council has been instrumental in allowing Magellan to stabilise operations on a rapid timeline and growth of the company will in part stem from the stable resources provided by the Council.”
The expertise in the emerging cluster of offshore companies at One Trinity Green is strengthening the borough’s position in the sector. Along with the facilities at Port of Tyne, the quay edge and deep sea berths plus the capabilities up the river at A&P Tyne there is a lot of opportunity for businesses locating to South Tyneside.
The Council are working collaboratively with businesses in the offshore sector to continue to explore international opportunities.
The image shows: (L – R): Robert Hall (Supply Chain Coordinator at Tilone (UK) Ltd), Liam McAllister (Operations coordinator at Tilone (UK) Ltd), Reece McAllister (General Manager at Tilone UK Ltd and Clients and Projects Director at Catalage) and Sarah McAllister (Operations Coordinator at Catalage Ltd).
