A FAMILY-RUN steel fabrication company aims to go on strengthening its order book after a double deal capped off a busy start to the year.

Finley Structures hopes to enhance its market position in deals to fabricate and erect 1,000 tonnes of steel for projects across Yorkshire and Lancashire.

The business, based in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, will work on a 640-tonne scheme at Doncaster Sixth Form College and supply 465 tonnes for a new distribution centre across the Pennines.

Confirmation of the deals comes after The Northern Echo revealed in early January how the business had been successful in securing the work.

Its Doncaster agreement, secured through contractor BAM Construction, will see Finley provide steelwork, as well as installing around 9,000sq metres of pre-cast concrete floor units, lift shafts, ground beams and stairs.

The contract builds on a number of deals in the education sector for Finley, with the business having previously worked on a 260-tonne contract at Leeds’ Roundhay School and a 560-tonne project at Ryde Academy, on the Isle of Wight.

Julie Raistrick, managing director, said the firm’s order book continues to be strong.

She said: “The education sector has been crucial to us over the last couple of years and continues to be so.

“We enjoyed a really busy finish to 2016, with an equally busy start to 2017, which is very encouraging.”

Ms Raistrick said Finley, which built the steel frame for Aycliffe trainbuilder Hitachi Rail Europe’s factory, expects its successes to persist, highlighting its first-time partnership with contractor GMI Construction on the Lancashire distribution hub.

Finley has a contract to design and build the structure for haulier Fagan and Whalley’s expansion on Burnley Bridge Business Park, which has seen the business overcome a challenging layout.

Diane Ruston, commercial director, added: “We’ve had to erect the steel in close proximity to major power lines, and as the building is taller than the lines this is particularly challenging.

“But through the design process, we developed effective solutions to enable the project to be delivered safely and successfully.

“Furthermore, it is the first time we’ve worked with GMI and it’s great to foster another new relationship with a major contractor.”

Finley has carried out work for projects across the country.

It supplied well in excess of 2,000 tonnes of steel for the Victoria Gate shopping centre in Leeds, supported Sunderland-based car maker Nissan’s factory expansion, and worked on a 1,900-tonne waste-to-energy plant in Hull.

The firm also put up a 380-tonne frame for Laurence Jackson School, in Guisborough, east Cleveland.