A RESTORATION and maintenance company has appointed a new manager after achieving more than £1.5m of new work in the first six months of the year.

Stone Technical Services’ Lightning Protection division (STS) design and install lightning protection for some of the most prestigious buildings in the UK.

STS, based in Darlington, have had a strong year, securing contracts with St Paul’s Cathedral, the Royal Courts of Justice and a number of councils around the UK.

The company also installed new lightning protection to three grade I-listed buildings at the University of York, as well as working with Darlington based offshore protection firm MTE, who make fire and blast protection for oil and gas platforms.

STS have appointed Steven Joyce as their new manager, who was previously a senior supervisor at the company.

Mr Joyce takes over from Julian Pinkney, who has taken on another managerial role with STS Restoration.

Dave Stone, company founder, said: “Stephen is vastly experienced in the lightning protection sector and appointing him to lead STS Lightning Protection was a natural progression into management for him as he continues to thrive.

"We place a lot of importance on retaining good staff and training and promoting in-house" he added.

Mr Joyce said: “Our skills and techniques are currently in high demand as we continue to offer exceptional yet very discreet lightning protection systems which are vital for protecting structures, those that work within them and members of the public too.”

STS employs a team of 40 and have previously carried out lightning protection installation at The Oval and Lord's cricket grounds, as well as safety repairs at Queens Park Rangers’ Loftus Road football ground.

Darlington brothers, Dave and Grahame Stone, established Stone Technical Services in 1998 and have offices in central London, Edinburgh city centre and a base near Stockport in Cheshire.

STS is now made up of five divisions – STS Conservation, STS RopeSpec, STS Restoration, STS Maintenance and Facilities Management and SST Lightning Protection.