Darlington firm wins Olympic Games contract (From The Northern Echo)
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Darlington firm wins Olympic Games contract
8:00am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in North-East Business News
A NORTH-EAST family firm is helping to ensure that the only lightning bolt set to make an impact at this summer's Olympic Games will be on the 100 metres track.
Nationwide Lightning Protection & Steeplejack Services of Darlington has been handed the contract to help make the Olympic stadium a safe place for athletes such as sprint star Usain "Lightning" Bolt and the thousands of spectators attending the global sporting showpiece. The company beat a host of bigger rivals to secure the £50,000 deal to earth six miles of electric security fencing which surrounds the stadium in East London.
It has also had the task of making safe the Temple Mills Lane Footbridge bridge, which is going to be used by thousands of pedestrians on their way to the athletes village.
The high profile contract is the latest success for the rapidly growing business formed by brothers Sam and Sonny Spence in their home town in 2009.
Director Sam, 35, said: "It was an honour for a small firm from Darlington to be chosen for such a massive event.
"When I first saw the stadium I just couldnt take in the size of it; it is gigantic.
"It is amazing to think we have been working there and watched it develop. Even the people who have bought tickets wont have seen the backbone of it like we have, which is quite something."
Nationwide has been working on the Olympic project for about a year, taking a team to London on a regular basis and even working through the night to meet deadlines.
"Without earthing protection the fence and the bridge could be a real danger to the public, if, for example, there was a lightning strike" he added. "Its good for our team who have been working on this to know that we have had a big part in making it a safe place to be. To be involved in such a huge project for the UK is fantastic; when the games start we will feel quite proud that we were there and part of it," said Sam, who set up the business after quitting a job working for his cousin Dave Stone at Darlington-based building conservation experts Stone Technical Services.
Nationwide, which has branches in London, Edinburgh and Stockport, is set to live up to its name by opening a branch in Birmingham in the upcoming months.
