Duke opens the door to MACAW Engineering's expansion
On its 15th anniversary of being in business, the Duke of Northumberland has officially opened a leading North-East Consultancy’s new offices on the prestigious Quorum Business Park, as it looks to continue its expansion plans.
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MACAW operates in the energy sector, working closely with global operators of oil and gas production facilities, pipelines and utility systems to reduce risk, maintain integrity and extend the service life of client assets.
MACAW Engineering General Manager Dr John Healy said: “This is a very exciting time in the growth of MACAW with a real pick up in new business. Having grown from 18 people in 2006 to 58 in 2011, the new facilities are designed to support the predicted rise in staff to 80 engineers by 2013”.
The event was attended by Northumbria University’s School of Computing, Engineering and Information Sciences’ (CEIS), Enterprise Fellow, Dr Phil Hackney.
Most of MACAW’s Principals are Chartered Engineers and many of its younger engineers are working towards Chartered status.
Phil commented: “We’ve been delighted to see MACAW’s success over the last few years. It is great to work with a company that recognises the value of linking with universities. It is a win-win partnership, with MACAW benefiting from direct access to our brightest engineering graduates and placement students, who are contributing to the development and expansion of the company. We benefit from the company’s input into our programmes; they provide insight into the skills they want our graduates to have and we listen and act upon those recommendations.”
CEIS and the University’s commercial department have enjoyed links with MACAW for a considerable time. Many of MACAW’s senior staff are alumni, several with higher degrees. More than ten MACAW staff have Northumbria engineering degrees and MACAW have over recent years, engaged several Northumbria engineering student placements, with four presently in the company during 2011/12. Several of the placements were subsequently taken on as full time engineers and continue to contribute to MACAW’s continued development.
MACAW is committed to developing its people to Chartered status. The IMechE is working with MACAW to provide a clear pathway to Chartership, which provides a very attractive proposition for engineering graduates. Phil continues: “CEIS are closely aligned with the IMechE, which accredits our very successful BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering programme. The IMechE Tyne and Wear Young Members Panel also have an active role in the programme, holding regular events and employer visits.”
MACAW is committed to staff development and operates effective appraisal and succession planning programmes. Recognising that many experts in the oil and gas industry are approaching retirement age, leaving an inevitable skills gap, the company actively encourages their experienced engineers to pass on their skills and knowledge to the upcoming engineers that will be involved in driving the future of the industry.
Over the last year MACAW have appointed several experienced engineers and consultants, whose knowledge and understanding will be invaluable in the development of the company’s younger engineers.
Situated in the North East of England in a region renowned for its expertise in pipeline engineering and integrity management, MACAW is ideally positioned to serve its customers in the UK, Europe and worldwide – ranging from Aberdeen to Australia.
For further information on any of the company’s services, please contact MACAW Engineering on Tel: +44 (0) 191 215 4010, Email: info@macawengineering.com Web: www.macawengineering.com
For more information about how Northumbria University can help your organisation, please visit Research and Business or call +44 (0)191 227 3960.
If you would like to discuss the part-time MEng/BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering programme, please call Phil Hackney on +44 (0)191 227 3644.
Date posted: November 18, 2011
