Councillor Margaret Meling, lead member for economic growth and transport at South Tyneside Council with Simon Cross, production manager (left) and Paul Wheeler, technical director (right). Photo: Metec UK South Shields-based
Metec UK has secured two significant export contracts worth over £4.5 million. The largest of the contracts will see the company provide its sacrificial anodes to a major offshore wind farm in the North Sea, which will power the equivalent of more than three million UK homes,
The other contract will see the company provide sacrificial anodes to a major offshore substation. Metec UK reported its best year on record in 2024, with both pre-tax profits and turnover reaching record highs. The rising demand for its sacrificial anodes which provide long-term protection against corrosion to steel monopile and jacket foundations – has been driven by the global shift to renewable energy and are used by companies in the oil and gas, LNG, marine and shipping industries.
Paul Wheeler, technical director at Metec UK, said: “These two new contracts are fantastic news for the business. Following hot on the heels of our best year to date, they will enable us to further build on this success by continuing to grow and create more opportunities for local people. It is the perfect way to kickstart the new year.”
Since opening its first UK manufacturing hub eight years ago, the company has created 35 jobs on South Tyneside and these latest contract wins will see it create a further eight jobs over the coming months, as well as 10 work placements through its ongoing partnership with South Tyneside College.
Simon Cross, production manager, said: “Since setting up the UK business eight years ago, it has grown to become the group’s main renewables arm and our location has been central to this. South Tyneside is fast becoming a central hub for renewables due to the number of businesses relocating here and its skilled industrial workforce, and this has benefited us massively.
“Both Paul and I are from the area, so we know it has everything we need to succeed, and this is also why we have partnered with South Tyneside College. Over the next 12 months, we will be creating 10 work placements for local students in the hope that some of them will seek to explore further employment with us, while ensuring we have a pipeline of talent for years to come.”
Metec UK’s recent growth has been supported by a £50,000 grant from South Tyneside Council, which will help to increase output and futureproof the site. This has been funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The grant will support the purchase and installation of solar panels, retrofitting the building and new foundry tooling to increase capacity.
Mr Wheeler added: “Over the coming years, we want to get to a position where we generate half of our energy ourselves, and this grant will go a long way to helping us achieve that. It will also allow us to increase capacity and take on more work by purchasing new tooling, which will be key to helping us deliver on these new contracts. We can’t thank the Council enough for its ongoing assistance, it really has gone above and beyond to support us ever since we moved here.”
Councillor Margaret Meling, lead member for economic growth and transport at South Tyneside Council, said: “Metec UK is a fantastic success story for our flourishing renewable energy industry. Flying the flag for South Tyneside around the globe, it is a fantastic example of how our skilled workforce and established industry cluster can help businesses innovate and grow and we are delighted to have supported the company on its on its journey.”