Aycliffe construction company Finley Structures will fabricate and erect 1,000 tonnes of steel after sealing a double deal. The family-run firm, is working for the first time with Leeds-based main contractor GMI Construction on a new distribution centre in Lancashire, involving 465 tonnes of steel. Finley Structures has also won another contract in the education sector as it works on a 640-tonne project for BAM Construction at Doncaster Sixth Form College.

Road haulage giant Fagan and Whalley is expanding with a multi-million pound development on Burnley Bridge Business Park creating at least 25 new jobs. The transport firm won planning permission to build a 92,000 square foot distribution hub on a 10-acre site near the M65’s Junction 9. Finley Structures won the contract from GMI Construction to design and build its steel frame on a site which lies next to power lines. The complex nature of the project is no obstacle for Finley Structures. Commercial director Diane Ruston said: “We’ve had to erect the steel in close proximity to major power lines, and as the building is taller than the lines this is particularly challenging. Through the design process, we developed effective solutions so the project is delivered safely and successfully.

“This is the first time we’ve worked with GMI and it’s great to foster another new relationship with a major contractor.” F&W’s new hub will provide parking for up to 80 trailers, with 10 loading bays and 25,000 pallet locations. Finley Structures has strengthened its ongoing relationship with major contractor BAM Construction after successfully securing a contract at Doncaster Sixth Form College. BAM is constructing the £11.1m building and awarded Finley’s a 640-tonne project to fabricate and erect steel as part of the overall scheme, while also installing approximately 9,000 sq m of pre-cast concrete floor units along with pre-cast concrete lift shafts, concrete ground beams and stairs.

The project follows several recent contracts in the education sector for Finley Structures who are also working on a 224-tonne school project in London for Bowmer and Kirkland, SEMH School in Seacroft, East Leeds, for Interserve, as well as Krishna Avanti School, which is Britain’s first state-funded Hindu school, in Edgware, London. They also won a 337-tonne contract, for Bowmer and Kirkland. “The education sector has been crucial to us over the last couple of years and continues to do so,” added Finley Structures managing director Julie Raistrick. “We enjoyed a really busy finish to 2016, with an equally busy start to 2017, which is very encouraging.”