Local SME collaboration is the key to success
15/06/2022
Cleator Moor-based RB Electrical and Whitehaven’s Responsive Ltd have joined forces in a collaboration to offer a complete electrical and mechanical inspection and testing service to their industrial clients. In May 2022, owners Ryan Bound and Lee Grears came together to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) offering to support one another.
Lee Grears, CEO of Responsive, said: “Responsive has been offering mechanical testing, such as radiography and ultrasonic testing of welds, since 2011 from our bases in Lillyhall and Whitehaven and we have been asked many times to offer electrical inspections, but we just could not find the correct partner, until now. Collaboration is key to Responsive’s future growth, allowing us to concentrate on our core business and helping to enhance other SME businesses around us.”
A combining of services takes the core staff numbers of both companies to 31.RB Electrical was also founded in 2011 and has grown from Ryan being a sole contractor, to six staff with two apprentices working in both domestic and commercial settings.
Ryan Bound, Managing Director of RB Electrical, said: “Collaborations such as this with Responsive will help our company grow. Immediately, we have secured work on Sellafield, allowing us to take on further staff and target new premises at Cleator Moor.”
Both companies believe that working together will open the door to new opportunities by offering a complete service to their industrial clients at Sellafield and elsewhere around the UK, meaning more staff, training and apprenticeships. In 2022, Responsive was the winner of the Nuclear Waste Services (LLW Repository Ltd) ESAT Lot 1 framework for the next four years and has also opened premises in Southampton, in addition to staff in the Manchester area.
RB Electrical and Responsive are members of Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC), which helps enable businesses to come together for collaboration. Dianne Richardson, CEO of BECBC, said: “Our purpose here at Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster is to create an environment for our members to do business and RB Electrical and Responsive have made the most of that environment. “Collaboration of this type, bringing together specialisms to offer easier solutions for customers, are so great to see. We are looking forward to seeing both companies thrive as a result.”
