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into administration, presenting Briton with an opportunity to further cement its market position, absorb some of the work Cleveland Bridge had been delivering and acquire its temporary work inventory. This included the steel trestles themselves, along with the associated designs, which Briton brought in-house and developed further over the following three years, expanding the range of its trestle systems in the process. That investment, totaling around £ 250,000, has since paid dividends through the temporary works designs Briton now produces for the installation of its own products.
More recently, the company invested approximately £ 400,000 in modular transport, acquiring multi-axle vehicles that can move loads of up to 550 tons, and tractor units currently plated to 200 tons, enabling complex and demanding site moves. Another tractor unit is currently on order at an investment of around £ 280,000, which will supplement the stock within the transport company Briton
just procured. On the shop floor, the firm has also invested in profile machines capable of profiling plates and cutting preparations for more complex welding details, an investment running to upwards of £ 2 million.
Despite its investment in equipment, most of Briton’ s projects still require highly skilled, hands-on work. Seeking to pass down that skill base to the next generation, the company maintains a comprehensive apprenticeship program, ensuring that experienced people who retire pass on their enviable skill. As part of its robust apprentice scheme on the shop floor, Briton takes on four platers and welders per year. At any given time, the company has between ten and 12 apprentices progressing through the program at various stages. What makes this program particularly special is the role its most experienced tradespeople play in delivering it.
“ Some of our older hands who were ready to retire have chosen to stay connected to the business, coming in a couple of days a
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