Having played a major role in the £10 million Swansea Palace Theatre refurbishment, a Welsh firm is looking to expand in 2025.
Newport’s Tube and Steel Supplies (TSS) fabricated and installed balustrading for the famous theatre which once hosted a young Charlie Chaplin, and now the Grade II listed building has a new lease of life as a centre for business and enterprise.
Tata Steel subsidiary, UKSE, has invested £100,000 in TSS to underpin its plan to take on a new team of 4 to cope with demand for their quality balustrading service, and to provide working capital.
The UKSE investment is part of its Support Programme for Wales launched last year to help mitigate the effects of recent changes to the local steel industry, and so far £2 million has been injected into the South Wales economy creating lasting and sustainable jobs.
TSS, a multi-product steel stockholder was set up in 1999 and has developed its balustrading service in recent years under the guidance of Director Darryl Sweet alongside its worldwide tubing, pipe, and fittings supplies.
Managing Director Carl Hale said the traditional side of the business remains strong and the plan is now to develop the balustrading service by taking on a new team of fitters under the control of Operations Manager James Sweet.
“We have a range of prestigious projects under our belt, including the Palace Theatre, and demand for this service is growing in schools, offices and domestic homes.
“Architects are increasingly specifying balustrades in their plans for both new builds and refurbishments, and we are seeing a high level of interest in our expertise in this field.
“It is obviously important that this work is done safely, and installation standards are becoming more exacting, so it is essential that this work is done by a properly qualified and experienced company.”
He said the investment from UKSE will enable the business to move forward and capitalise on its growing reputation in this developing area. “It is very timely and we are looking forward to working with the UKSE team to navigate a changing business environment.”
TSS serves a diverse range of clients. The firm supplies pipeline and process products engineered to exacting standards to the oil and chemical and other industries around the world, and steel work for general fabrication and construction. Hot and Cold Finished seamless tubes are also supplied for mechanical and engineering purposes.
As well as this, it has built a specialism serving niche clients who restore old vehicles such as traction engines and require now defunct parts reproduced to precise specifications.
The company was originally set up in Newport Docks by Carl and fellow Director Paul Collins and moved to its current premises on the Leeway Industrial Estate in 2019.
UKSE makes strategic investments in Welsh and UK companies which show the potential to grow and create jobs and prosperity, and UKSE estimates it has supported 83,000 jobs around the UK since it was established 50 years ago.
Michelle Noble UKSE Regional Executive said she was delighted to be working with TSS at this important time in the business’s development. “The firm is long established and deservedly has a superb reputation for quality, service and innovation.
“Our Support Programme for Wales aims to help local enterprises, such as TSS, move into new markets, take advantage of opportunities and create lasting jobs. We wish them every success in the future.”
