Helping Parkol capitalise on buoyant fishing industry
The UK’s fishing industry is experiencing its most optimistic times for decades.
As a result, Whitby-based Parkol Marine Engineering needed specialist marine and hazardous area electrical contract support to help them keep pace with demand. Hence why they approached us.
Post-Brexit optimism, burgeoning fish stocks and positive trading conditions are contributing to Parkol’s busiest times ever, with its business levels up by 50 per cent.
Usually building two boats a year, they’re now on their third of 2017 already – and are already booked for build and maintenance work into 2018 – and we are helping them with maintenance and installs aboard their vessels.
The Project
Andrew Oliver, Parkol Director and Engineering Manager, said: “We’re busier than we have ever been, and therefore we are having to subcontract out more. The fishing industry is very buoyant at the moment, largely as a result of Brexit and the belief that we will regain control of more of our UK fishing grounds.
“Fish is bringing a better price too and, because the Euro remains relatively strong against the pound, it’s cheaper to export than it was.”
Parkol service UK coastal fishing fleets from the North and Scotland, including Shetland and Orkney, right down as far as Penzance and Cornwall. They both build and maintain the boats that make up these fleets. Such is their reputation that trawler owners will travel 36 hours from the North and 60 hours up from the South, to have them service their boats.
As well as new boat builds and maintenance, they fit custom-designed equipment that can reduce fuel costs by up to 20 per cent, and it is innovations like this that have also fuelled their rapid recent growth.
They have been repeatedly recognised in the industry – winning ‘Fishing Vessel of the Year in the annual Fishing News awards for the past two years running.
“As a result of our growth, we decided to tender for an electrical company to help us manage builds, maintenance and refits. We considered electricians ranging from Hull up to Middlesbrough, which are our main marine supply sources. Pearson Electrical shone through for their friendly, reliable approach, backed by industry-leading accreditations,” added Andrew.
“We’re both hands-on, family-run companies too, and so there was a great synergy between our businesses and ethos, and it was just a natural fit.”
Andrew added: “We’re hoping that our industry can breathe again and we can take back our own waters, governing them by our own rules once again.
“There are also lots of fish to go for, and the prices they’re fetching at market are much better than the boats were getting before, as well as being cheaper to fish for thanks to energy efficiency improvements on vessels, so our fishermen are at last winning in several ways.”
Specialist support
Highly trained electricians with specialist qualifications and experience needed to tackle all kinds of electrical work, in a wide range of challenging environments
Quality workmanship
Exacting standards, quality components, an excellent health and safety record, and the highest quality electrical work on every project
Capacity
An extensive team of electrical engineers and back office support staff, with the ability to tackle projects of all sizes
Responsive service
A 24-hour helpline, with a quick turnaround on project work and emergency repair services available for all customers