ONE of the region’s oldest civil engineering firms has recognised some of its longest serving employees and is also building for the future by choosing the next generation of managers.

In what is the company’s 70th anniversary year John Dickson, chairman of The Owen Pugh Group, selected a number of staff working at all levels across the group to receive tailored training to help them develop as decision-makers.

“We have a proud record of continually investing in our staff and we see this as the next logical stage of that development,” said Mr Dickson.

“We are in our 70th year now and we have been able to offer our customers a particularly high level of service throughout that time because we have had the right people in the right positions from top to bottom of our organisation.

“With our rate of growth, it becomes increasingly important to plan ahead as far as possible and these managers will help us do that as efficiently as possible.”

Owen Pugh ran the course for the first time last year and the latest tranche of 14 staff have just started one day per month of training for the next year. Ten of the candidates are working towards a valuable BTEC Diploma in leadership with four undergoing the training element.

In the meantime the firm, which has offices across the North-East, held an event to celebrate 12 staff members who have clocked up a staggering 426 years of service between them and to present some with long-service awards.

The company’s longest serving employee, 65 year old Albert Trick a plant operator from Newcastle is set to retire this month after working with the firm since 1970.

He said: “Having worked with Owen Pugh for the best part of half a century the decision to take retirement was a very difficult one as it’s been a part of my life for so long. I’m proud to have been a part of the business; I’ve seen so many changes along the way. The company has grown into one of the region’s most successful civil engineering outfits and will grow even more, I’m sure."