Two childhood friends have launched a dynamic new North-East business, providing rope access solutions to industrial clients. They talked to PETER BARRON about their ambitions

AS they look down from their smart office suite above the world-class training centre they have created, James Somers and Lance MacMaster are quick to acknowledge the debt they owe to the man who inspired them.

Dave Somers – James’ dad – was a charismatic former Royal Marine, highly respected, and brilliant in his field. He was their role model and guide.

Now, they are making their own way in business, and they know how proud he would be of what they’ve achieved six years after his death at the age of 55.

“He was always determined to raise standards, be the best, and to help people, and we want his reputation to live on through us,” says James.

He and Lance are directors of Hightech Industrial Access, which started trading in their hometown of Darlington in May, and they have already secured a major contract, providing a range of skilled tradesmen – all trained in rope access techniques – to petrochemical sites on Teesside.

Their aim is to become the ‘go-to’ training and services provider in their sphere. “It involves anything where traditional, standard access – like scaffolding or cherry-pickers – isn’t possible,” explains Lance. “We come up with solutions through rope access.”

Blade maintenance on wind turbines, building maintenance, industrial window cleaning, welding inspections are among the disciplines offered by the company.

James and Lance, both now 32, have been through a lot since they met when they were 13. James was in the GB judo squad for seven years and the friendship was reinforced when he introduced Lance to the sport. Then, Lance was taken in by the Somers family when he was 15 and going through problems in his life.

The boys didn’t have any real career plans until Dave, who was working as a rope access trainer, instructor and assessor, announced one day: “Come on, you’re coming to work with me!”

Dave was working as a rope access trainer, later becoming director of a company on Teesside and, as soon as the boys were old enough to go onto industrial sites, they began to learn the techniques involved in rope access. James went down the rigging route, while Lance specialised in painting, and both began, working offshore, all over the North Sea, as well as in shipyards, and venturing to the Middle East and Norway.

Having given his son and Lance invaluable experience in the profession, the family received the tragic news that he had a brain tumour, and he passed away in 2015.

“Obviously, we were all devastated to lose him at such a young age, but he’d laid solid foundations for our future, and we’ll always be grateful,” says James.

The friends continued to build up their experience, adding management skills to their CVs, with James becoming a foreman on an offshore platform.

However, their minds had turned to running their own business and they decided to take the plunge after James suffered a serious health scare last summer. He’d gone into hospital for keyhole surgery on his knee, but started feeling unwell three days later. It turned out to be sepsis, which developed so rapidly that a crash team was on standby at hospital, and amputating his leg was a real possibility.

In the end, part of his calf had to be removed, and the time he needed to spend in rehabilitation meant he lost his job because of his self-employed status. Around the same time, Lance also found himself unemployed as a consequence of the pandemic.

While all this was happening, a 10-metres high unit, which fitted their business plans perfectly, became available on a business park in Henson Road, Darlington. They’d made a bid for the unit three years earlier when it was being used for car parts storage, but it wasn’t available at the time.

“It’s really difficult to find a unit with the dimensions we needed and, after all that had happened, we knew it was a ‘now or never’ moment for us,” recalls James.

James’ mum, Joanne, also proved a great source of support. She runs the Era 21 Plus hairdressers in Hollyhurst Road, Darlington – where her daughter, Leander is also a hairdresser – so she had invaluable experience of what’s involved in setting up a business.

“She was able to give us useful advice on the challenges of launching a business because she’s done it and been a success,” says James.

Using loans, financial support from their family, and their own savings, £100,000 was invested in transforming the unit into a state-of-the-art training centre. Hightech Industrial Access has been born.

The conversion started last November and was completed five months later, featuring a rope access training facility in the North-East, a classroom, kitchen, two bathrooms, office suite and two stores. One of the largest indoor training centres in the North-East, James and Lance used their Level 3 experience in the sector to simulate an oil and gas module. Participants are, therefore, able to learn in a realistic setting and become more accustomed to their working environment.

They had the perfect training centre – all they needed were contracts. In March, they secured a window-cleaning deal for high-rise buildings in Gateshead, and that was followed by the first major contract – supplying tradesmen to petrochemical sites on Seal Sands.

“It represents a fantastic start, and we’re ready to build on it by not only catering for the rope access training needs of industry, but also supplying skilled personnel,” says James.

Since the company started trading, it has trained 28 tradespeople, including six who were new to the rope access sector, and all of them are now in full-time employment.

The company also has a database of more than 200 skilled tradespeople. If anyone needs riggers, electricians, mechanics, pipefitters, welders or painters, Hightech Industrial Access can supply them.

The aim, wherever possible, is to develop three-man teams made up of two skilled tradespeople and one who is starting out.

“Our goal is to get local people into jobs, raise the standards for industrial rope access to the highest level possible, and train the next generation of workers using these techniques,” declares James.

The business has been placed on the JobCentre database, and James and Lance will be working with schools and colleges to encourage young people to consider the wide range of career opportunities that come with rope access skills.

Clients, who have carried out audits, have said the operation is head and shoulders above the competition for both facilities and management systems, and new contracts are expected to be announced soon.

Plans are progressing to also provide confined space training, and partnerships are being forged with the mountain guide fraternity. A training course is even being developed for dogs that need to work at heights, such as in the prison service or security sector.

“We’ve taken an ambitious step and invested heavily, but we know we have facilities that are second to none, and the experience to go with them, so we are confident we can deliver,” says James.

And life is turning full circle because customers who worked with – and trusted – Dave Somers are now putting their faith in the company that has been launched by his son, in partnership with his closest friend from childhood.

“Dave changed my life. I am where I am in life because of what he did for me, and I want to do him proud,” says Lance.

He and James are aiming high – and it’s thanks to an unforgettable role model who showed them the ropes.

  • To find out more about the training and services offered by Hightech Industrial Access, go to www.hightech-access.co.uk, search for the company on Facebook, or call 01325 487085.