TRADITIONAL TOPPING OUT CEREMONY MARKS LATEST MILESTONE IN £3 MILLION PROJECT AT BEACON PARK

A major milestone in the creation of a new £3 million base for a leading global oil and gas industry specialist, which is expected to create at least 50 new engineering and manufacturing jobs in the region, was marked with a traditional topping-out ceremony at Gorleston's Beacon Park.

Specialised Management Services Ltd managing director Dave Howlett and operations director Liz Culyer were joined on a cherry picker by Paul Pitcher, managing director of constructor Wellington, and Robin Neve of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, to pour a pint of beer over the roof of the new 30,000 sq ft building - just four and a half months after they cut the first sod at the 100,000 sq ft site.

The new building will include workshop and office facilities, and will be almost double the size of the company's current headquarters, on the Harfreys Industrial Estate.  The new facility will include two dedicated test bays for pressure testing and operational testing, with modern observation zones for improved safety.  The workshop will be equipped with a built-in overhead crane.

Dave Howlett said, “This is an important milestone in the creation of our new headquarters, which will enable SMS to better meet the needs of clients, both current and future.  We are confident about the company's future, and the investment we are making here demonstrates that, as well as opening up the potential to provide many new jobs over the coming years."

Paul Pitcher, managing director of Lowestoft-based Wellington, which is constructing the building, and which has developed much of Beacon Park, said, "We are proud to be delivering this important construction project for Beacon Park.  This will be a state-of-the-art building, which will enhance Beacon Park's reputation as the base for some of the energy sector's leading service businesses.  We are delighted to be topping out this building, and are now looking forward to the fit-out stage which is already underway.

Chartered surveyor Robin Neve, who leads on the delivery of Beacon Park for Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: “This topping-out ceremony is a milestone in the development of Beacon Park, which is growing rapidly, creating jobs and supporting the local economy thanks to continued private and public investment, including a significant contribution from the borough council.

“In this 50th year of offshore energy operations from Great Yarmouth, the fact that so many businesses are relocating to, and expanding within, the borough indicates huge confidence in the local economy, the skills of the workforce, the port and business park facilities, and the Enterprise Zone.”

SMS are expected to move into the new premises towards the end of the year.