A fast-growing engineering company which provides safety solutions to the global processing industry has pulled off a major coup after enticing one of the world’s leading experts in mechanical interlocks from London to work on Teesside.

Founded in 2015 with an initial £2,000 investment, Prosafe Engineering is on target for a £1.3m turnover this year following a summer move to bigger new premises on Middlesbrough’s Riverside Park.

And the firm has now made a key staff appointment with the addition of vastly-experienced Simon Read as sales manager, taking its workforce up to seven.

Read has spent the past 40 years working within the oil, gas and petrochemicals industries and knew Prosafe Engineering as distributors for world-leading process safety product manufacturer Sofis, who he worked for.

Prosafe Engineering managing director Greg Hynes said the expertise which the 63-year-old brings to the firm – already winners of a brace of North East Business Awards in the Best Newcomer category – cannot be understated.

And he is happy to have been able to buck an employment trend which often sees many of the brightest minds travel to the capital from the North-East for work, rather than the other way around.

“Simon is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable people in the world when it comes to mechanical interlocks,” said Hynes, whose company also design their own interlocking systems which enforce safe valve operation in industry.

“And while we’re firm believers in giving opportunities to local young people and are actively creating apprenticeships, we also value experience and knowledge to enhance the company’s growth plans.

“I’m keen to create an environment where talented members of the younger generation can tap into the experience of time served and knowledgeable experts within the industry.

“We all hear about the way the North-East often loses talent to the south, so it’s absolutely fantastic to be reversing that trend and attracting an expert in his field to Teesside from London,” Hynes added.

Born in Cambridge but raised on the west coast of Scotland, Read is equally excited to be working with Prosafe Engineering, who are now a major player in the UK mechanical interlocking industry.

“Prosafe is a growing company brimming full of ideas and making a lot of progress,” he said. “It will go places over the next 10 years, without a doubt.

“As a company Prosafe Engineering are very passionate about delivering process safety solutions, and I’m glad to be able to bring my experience and knowledge on board.

“I like Teesside and I’ve holidayed on the North York Moors a couple of times, so I already knew the area before I came and I’m happy to be here.”