Employee owned marine engineering business, Houlder Ltd. has announced the opening of a new permanent office in Boldon, Tyne & Wear. The move is designed to secure high quality, sophisticated ship design capability in the North East.

With a history dating back over a century, Houlder has become renowned for sharing knowledge and skills gained through considerable project experience.

This includes significant shipbuilding and related design projects from the North East particularly in the Oil & Gas and Defence sectors. Notable examples include major conversions of Polar Queen and Normand 7 with A&P Tyne and the supply of Royal Navy handling equipment with PJ Engineering in Southshields.

The new office in South Tyneside’s Boldon Business Park is initially home to a team of four to six draughtspeople and engineers with plans to firmly establish it as a regional centre for the business.

Houlder’s Managing Director, Rupert Hare said:

“Houlder recognise the importance of the North East and when the chance came to establish an office, we leapt at it. The alternative would have been knowledge and experience moving away and valuable commercial opportunities being missed.“ 

Councillor Michael Clare, Lead Member for Jobs, Enterprise and Regeneration at South Tyneside Council, said of the move.

“I’m delighted to welcome Houlder to South Tyneside . It’s a distinguished company with great knowledge and experience in marine engineering and its new Borough-based office places it in a prime location where it can take advantage of the area’s thriving riverside”

"South Tyneside Council welcomes businesses and does all it can to support existing companies and encourage new ones to come here. I wish Houlder well for its future in South Tyneside .”

Open for business May 28, the Boldon team will immediately start working on a range of projects for marine and offshore developers, owners and operators both in the region and beyond. 

Image: Houlder's Colin Forster and Rob Wilson outside their new home.