Unit Birwelco — the engineering and construction contractor based in Swansea — is looking to make strategic acquisitions and expand globally as a result of £4.1 million in funding from Santander Corporate & Commercial.
With a history dating back to 1898, the company provides a comprehensive range of services to a ‘blue-chip’ client base that includes Shell, Associated British Ports, Dow Corning, EDF and the National Grid.
Employing 300 people in Wales, it delivers leading-edge design, engineering, construction and maintenance solutions for complete projects and individual plants within the energy, chemical and petrochemical, refinery and utility industries.
The group, which consists of four operational divisions overseen by a single project management team, recently agreed to set up a US operation in Texas with an initial focus on the North American refining, petrochemical and energy markets. The expansion into America is set to create about 30 more jobs in Wales.
Managing director Bill Ledwood (pictured, left) said: “The team at Santander has been able to provide us with a relationship banking service that meets our expectations.”
Andrew Williams, relationship director for Santander Corporate & Commercial (second left), said: “Birwelco is a long-established and high-quality engineering business that adds real value to the local economy.”