Directors in Portland Consulting Engineers (Portland), have made further commitment to the consultancy’s future by purchasing the remaining shares in the company.

Portland, based in offices on the Watermark, Gateshead, specialising in providing civil and structural engineering design services was launched in 2004 by an experienced team of design engineers headed up by managing director, John Hardy. 
 
Since that time the company has secured prestigious contracts in a diverse range of sectors including social housing, working for providers such as the Riverside Housing Group on much needed schemes under the ‘Places for Change’ initiative; education, providing structural design services on behalf of Gateshead College on its latest development and construction of a new junior school at Dame Allans, Newcastle, as well as the ecclesiastical sector, winning both restoration and new build contracts.
 
Weathering the current challenging trading conditions, by  which the construction industry has been hit particularly hard, Portland’s board of directors decided earlier this year to develop a robust strategy for growth, part of which involved this latest investment , funding for which is organic – all shareholders are now employees.  Such is their confidence in the business that the directors have each made a personal commitment and not sought outside assistance to fund the acquisition of shares.  
 
Also, as part of this process, Lee Barr has been appointed as a director.  Lee joined Portland in 2004 as a senior technician and since then has achieved IStructE Associate Membership, becoming a qualified project engineer before rising to his new level of director.  He is currently advising clients on community projects including the development of Birtley Young People’s Club which, when completed, is set to be used as a training venue for the 2012 Olympics.
 
Speaking about this latest phase in the company’s success, John Hardy said:
 
“This is really positive news.  Everyone within Portland Consulting Engineers is wholly committed to the future of the company and this latest investment is a key component of our detailed strategy to grow the business.  In addition to this, apart from continuing to secure contracts, we will also be looking, when the time is right, at growth through acquisition.
 
“ Small companies such as ours rely on the commitment of staff to work extremely hard and deliver the high level of service that clients have come to expect from us.  In recognition of this and his desire to be involved at a more strategic level, Lee Barr has now been made a director and joins Peter Dwyer and Mark Grant on the board.”
 
Currently working on developments in Catterick and Gateshead, which will have a positive impact on local communities, Portland is expected to make further contract win announcements later this month.

From left, Portland's directors, Peter Dwyer, John Hardy, Mark Grant and Lee Barr