New generation hopes to spark growth
A Garelochhead company, founded 35 years ago, is targeting growth after achieving a major industry accreditation.
N J Slee Welding and Fabrication was established by Nicol Slee and has developed a wide customer base that includes blue chip companies Babcock, Rolls Royce, Ineos and Qinetiq.
Last year, Nicol, 65, hinted to his family and workforce of his intentions to retire in the near future, and his son, Steven, 34, who served his apprenticeship with his dad’s company, would naturally be in line to take over.
Steven approached Argyll and Bute Council’s Business Gateway to see how they could help with his growth plans for the business and was awarded a Business Gateway Plus growth grant to help take the company through the ISO 9001 certification process; a Quality Management standard that will help N J Slee attract and tender for higher value contracts.
Steven said: “My dad built the company up himself from scratch and for 35 years has won contracts with some of the leading businesses in the construction and defence industries, including the building and maintenance of Faslane and Coulport, but I feel ambitious enough for us to be competing for even more, larger contracts as we go forward.”
“We remain a small company, with a team of five staff, but we believe our current and projected workload will allow us to take on apprentices and steadily increase our staff. Gaining the ISO 9001 is the first step in this as it allows us to compete for the higher value contracts.”
Steven added: “The support we received from Business Gateway has resulted in us being further ahead than we expected. The Business Gateway Plus growth grant meant we could go for the ISO accreditation, as well as invest in much needed software. This, and the advice from our adviser means we can push ahead with our plans and implement new strategies that will focus on growth.”
Ann Scott, the Business Gateway adviser for Helensburgh who worked with Steven said: “N J Slee is the perfect example of a company that has been well run for a long time, but now feels it’s time to implement new ideas to modernise and further develop. As well as the grant, we used our extensive contacts to introduce Steven to Energy North, a not-for-profit trade group that will enable N J Slee to learn more about the renewable industry.”
Business Gateway will continue working with Steven to help the company achieve its goals.