HERE is a tip for any companies hoping to showcase their success on the front page of the Echo - don't make a big announcement on the same day the President of the United States visits the region.

After more than 25 years with Seymour Civil Engineering, Kevin Byrne has no hesitation in naming the firm's work on the sea defences between Hartlepool and Seaton Carew as one of the high water marks of his career. But he is still mildly irked that the project's grand opening failed to secure the attention it deserved as the region's gaze was directed elsewhere that day.

As Kevin and his party were cutting the ribbon, about 13 miles inland President George Bush was enjoying a pint at the Dun Cow Inn with Tony Blair in the then Prime Minister's constituency of Sedgefield.

"We felt like issuing a press release that said: 'You would Seymour in Hartlepool Mr President,' but we couldn't really compete that day," admits the vastly experienced engineering boss, who hails from Blackburn but is now settled in the North-East, after spending 11 years living in Darlington before moving to his current home in Sedgefield.

His time in the North-East has engendered a passion for rugby union - he is three short of seeing 100 England international matches - and he still cheers on his boyhood football favourites Blackburn Rovers. To escape the pressures of work he slips away on his boat which is moored in Hartlepool Marina close to his offices.

Mr Byrne joined Seymour in 1989 when he was given the job of running the estimating department. He became a director at the firm ten years ago before taking up his current role of managing director in 2012.

Any business involved in the construction sector become accustomed to the boom and bust nature of the industry, but Seymour has managed to thrive by adapting to the prevailing conditions, explains Mr Byrne, 57.

"We have had to evolve. You can't just keep doing what you have always done and hope to survive," he says. "Ensuring you have the right people around is key - our staff are our greatest resource, without them we are nothing," he insists.

He has an interesting take on the oft-repeated concern that skills gaps prevent the sector from taking full advantage when there is an upturn in demand.

He says: "When you have a recession that is as long and deep as the one that started in 2007/8 you have people in their early fifties leaving the industry and not being replaced so almost a whole generation of skilled people is lost. Filling that gap becomes a huge challenge.

"When I started in the industry the fifty-somethings who were showing me the ropes had served in World War II. Not only did they have this incredible amount of experience and expertise that you could learn from, and a great 'can do attitude' , they could also work things out for themselves - very practically minded - which is something we're in danger of losing."

Seymour takes its training responsibilities seriously. About 15 staff are apprentices or trainees and more are scheduled to join this summer.

"I worked my way up and there is no replacement for gaining hands-on experience," says Mr Byrne.

The firm is recognised as one of the North-East’s leading civil engineering businesses, and specialises in drainage, urban renewal projects, restoration and development work as well as sea defence. It recently moved into new premises after posting record financial results. The company now has 230 staff and it set to grow further.

Mr Byrne adds: “We had reached a point where there needed to be a step change. We had taken the turnover from £20m into the £30m bracket, and the new building is an ideal location for us as it is just 500 yards from the depot where we keep all of our heavy goods vehicles and machinery.

“The bulk of our business is carried out within a 50 mile radius of Hartlepool, though we stretch as far north as Berwick, down to Leeds and across to the Cumbrian border.

“We also have depots in Blaydon and Darlington, so we’re accessible wherever the work is being carried out.”

He added: “We are moving in the business in the right direction, there is growth year on year and we want to control that. Five years down the line, I’d like to think we will be operating with a £50m turnover with a workforce well in excess of 300.”

Examples of the firm's expertise can be seen across the region - from Saltburn to Cragside country house, near Rothbury, Northumberland and its flood defence and alleviation work has protected countless homes from being inundated.

President Bush may have hogged the headlines on his flying visit in 2003 but Seymour has become a North-East success story that is now hard to ignore.