It has been quite a year for AIM-listed shipyard and gas infrastructure project business InfraStrata.
In an interview with London South East, CEO John Wood tells us its nearly a year since they bought the Harland and Wolff site in Belfast, and they have seen a lot happen since then.
When we interviewed CEO John Wood in April, INFA hadn't yet bought what is now Harland & Wolff (Appledore), and it seems more than than a coincidence that Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently found time for a photo opportunity at the North Devon shipyard.
Now in the space of 24 hours the government have published a review of Green Energy which highlights wind energy and ultimately hydrogen, and for Defence Spending, both of which fit snugly into the core InfraStrata strategy.
John was very clear that InfraStrata are not just about shipbuilding. "What we've actually got is five different markets in six different sectors, including defence, renewables, we've got commercial, oil and gas, cruise and ferry. We aim to keep ourselves with a balanced portfolio spread across different markets, flattening the peaks and troughs of demand.
"We had 60 people when we took over Harland & Wolff, now we have 200 including subcontractors. We focus on fabrication where we have the skills in-house. Having got the repair and maintenance side up to speed, we are now looking to get fabrication ramped up before the end of this year.
"We have a 1.7 billion weighted pipeline, and we have several 100 million in tender waiting for awards to come through and we are fairly optimistic about where we are, and its about making sure we have enough space for all the work, which is where we can share with Appledore.
"We have had enquiries for 13 new-build vessels since we took over Appledore and we are looking at them now. Its a great facility for the smaller end of the market, probably the best in the UK. "We think it derisks our offering with its proximity to the Irish Sea and to Belfast where a lot of renewables work is coming up. Whether its constructing ships, power stations, renewable projects it gives us the opportunity to build and share between Appledore and Belfast. "
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