Specialist Engineering Services Ltd (SES)

An engineering company is reaping the rewards of a new location – after moving its headquarters to Balby with the help of Business Doncaster.

Specialist Engineering Services Ltd (SES), which provides infrastructure solutions to the rail industry, was keen to secure a new office on the same campus as its regional operation base.

For the move from Bassetlaw to Doncaster to become a reality, SES were looking for additional funding to support the move – so it turned to Business Doncaster for advice after a word-of-mouth recommendation.

“We were amazed by the support Business Doncaster could offer us”, Business Services Manager, Emma Shrimpton, said.

“Because we were moving into the area, boosting the local economy and creating jobs, it was able to provide funding towards both the move and modifying the access point to our rail operating centre so it could allow heavy plant access.”

SES employs more than 100 people across four locations and has a turnover of £9m. The company has more than 20 years’ experience in rail engineering, and also supplies services in the mining, tunnelling and civil engineering sectors.

With this reputation, Business Doncaster also introduced SES to the Northern Rail Alliance, which led to working with the National College for High Speed Rail and getting access to students for work experiences and apprenticeships.

SES were also able to access free Masterclasses on everything from effective management and marketing to GDPR and ISO certification as beneficiaries of Business Doncaster’s support, which has helped staff learn new skills and network with attendees from other companies.

In turn, that has led to an engagement with a local marketing company and discussions with other businesses within the region, putting SES in touch with potential new suppliers.

The session on ISO prompted a review of the company’s integrated management system ahead of an audit, ultimately helping it to renew its certification successfully.

Emma added: “We have been so impressed with the service from Business Doncaster.

“The financial support came through very quickly and once we were engaged, we were able to access all kinds of other things too.

“The Masterclasses have been an excellent resource for our business. In the last nine months alone, we have had a presence at five of the sessions and we have already booked on to two future events.

“I have already told local businesses about the programme – and to make contact immediately if they are not on board already!”

---

The Sheffield City Region Growth Hub Enhancement Project is receiving up to £2.7m of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for the European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.