News category: news

Hythe Group – Where it all began

Today, Hythe Group specialise in the provision of premium design and engineering services. The Group operates globally within a variety of industries such as building, commercial, marine as well as the storage and distribution sector. But where did Hythe Group begin?

 

A little history

The original business, Hythe Marine Services (HMS), are renowned worldwide for their work on bespoke design and engineering services. As HMS developed a strong reputation within the marine sector, demand for their design and engineering services started to diversify beyond that of the marine market. 

At this time the company’s sole focus was not on growth, or being the biggest company within the industry, speak with Hythe Group Director Josh Mathias and he will tell you it’s all about being the best at what you do, that reputation for delivering unrivaled quality and service is far more valuable than purely chasing market domination. 

Having said that, in 2016 a highly motivated team within HMS pitched the idea of separating the company into two entities. One side would continue operating within the marine sector and the other would focus wholly on the building industry to meet growing demand. They saw a requirement to take on small prefabrication and installation packages for larger companies, who held a major part of contracts. The demand was clear, these larger companies were over stretched and needed a reliable, flexible and motivated team to take care of the problem. Josh Mathias commented that, “funnily enough this attitude towards work was how Hythe Marine Services was built and is what continues to ensure its growth today.”

Anyone who’s done it will tell you that the thought of starting a new business is daunting. However when it became clear there was an opportunity for slow, controlled growth, and high demand for quality labour within the commercial sector, expansion seemed to be a good and progressive option. And so in 2016, the team took the leap and Hythe Pipe Services was born, which later got rebranded as Hythe Building Services in 2019. 

“It’s largely because of that team that the idea became a reality. Today the foundations have become even stronger by bringing in like minded people to help drive the company in the correct direction at a controllable rate.” Josh Mathias | Director |Hythe Group 

Today Hythe Building Services (HBS) specialise in bespoke pipework, welding, fabrication and design services within the industrial, commercial and public sectors. For HBS to succeed, in this new and extremely competitive market, the team focused predominantly on controlled growth and the maintenance of Hythe Group’s reputation with solid client relationships and outstanding project deliverance. 

Three years later, in 2019, Hythe HOSMU was formed. This division within Hythe Group is a concept driven manufacturing business capable of designing, manufacturing and implementing consolidated and organised mass storage and distribution solutions. The team specialise in providing bespoke solutions to unique storage and distribution challenges, access limitations and/or functional hurdles. 

Hythe HOSMU was developed in partnership with Our Soles Ltd. and Heathrow Airport, to provide bespoke storage and distribution solutions to Heathrow’s winter resilience team. Although this is the youngest company within Hythe Group, HOSMU will soon begin to take on larger projects of mass-produced and bespoke items, using its knowledge from the marine fabrication sector to fast track its quality and set up. 

“Hythe Group were the perfect team to choose for the Heathrow project. I had seen how diverse their skills in metal fabrication and engineering really were, skills that were essential for the bespoke nature of the Heathrow Airport project.” Neil Robinson | Managing Director | Our Soles Ltd.

After the creation of Hythe HOSMU Josh decided it was time to group the companies together and link them all under one umbrella. The overarching Hythe Group brand now allows for the promotion of each company’s diverse skill set through one single platform. 

 

The role of the team

A unique advantage for Hythe Group businesses is the ability to create brand new companies using existing team members. Hythe Marine employee capabilities are recognised globally for their quality service, high standards, unique skills and attention to detail. These characteristics have carried through to the newer companies and employees.

Many team members have worked together for decades, harking back to when HMS was under previous titles Avrotech Design and Mathon Engineering. These long term employees of Hythe Group are known by name with industry-leading organisations, such as the Royal Navy, Babcock, BAE systems and the Ministry of Defence.

The small team who came up with the idea to split HMS into marine and building divisions are a great example of the Hythe Group mentality. It was because of their knowledge and dedication that the idea became a reality. Since then, the foundations have become even stronger by bringing in like-minded people to help drive the company in the correct direction.

We asked Josh Mathias about the team dynamic at Hythe Group: “The entire group at all levels enjoy improving themselves. The senior workforce is happy to pass on their knowledge to our apprentices and it’s great to watch them support the younger generation by passing on their knowledge within specific trades. In years to come, these apprentices are going to be highly skilled in multiple disciplines, making them the future must-haves hybrid traders of the industry.”

 

Group diversity

The staff turnover at Hythe Group is almost non-existent. Because of this, there are ever-growing amounts of in-house knowledge to continue the overall goal of upskilling and developing the workforce throughout the group.

Creating Hythe Group has made the company extremely versatile in applying their core skill sets. The workforce are able to comfortably move around to meet demand due to their wide-ranging experience. Despite being standalone companies, Hythe Group’s integrated teams ensure they are able to assist each other in periods of high or low demand. 

Team members are used to following incredibly strict policies and procedures. As a result the group is renowned for their ability to complete demanding turnkey projects in what are usually very short time scales.

 

What comes next?

An inevitable result of carrying out quality work and building strong relationships is an increase in demand. Hythe Group predicts the continued natural growth of each business for the coming years. This will be managed by selecting the right companies to work with, by taking on turnkey projects and supporting a growing workforce. 

Hythe Group’s immediate focus is the development of each business within the group, working to solidify their foundations, maintain the Hythe brand reputation and grow at a controllable rate. But most importantly, Hythe Group will ensure both the workforce and their clients are being looked after. 

To discuss how Hythe Group can assist with your next project?

Hythe Marine Services Achieves CE Accreditation

The CE accreditation marking of construction products became mandatory in the summer of 2014 at which time fabricators were legally required to demonstrate compliance with BS EN 1090, a required European standard for the execution of steel and aluminium structures and construction products. The associated accreditation falls under the UK Construction Products Regulations (CPR).

Driven by customer demands and a commitment to continuous improvement, Hythe Marine Services (HMS) set CE marking accreditation as a primary strategic target to attain in 2020.

 

Value for our Customers

As of March 2020 HMS is now approved to fabricate steel and aluminium structures to an Execution Level of Class 2 as classified within the UK Construction Products Regulations. HMS level of accreditation comprises all supporting structures made of steel up to strength class S700 and structural components made of aluminium alloys. This typically includes buildings with between 2 and 15 floors.

Each product produced by Hythe Marine Services will follow a regulated process. The European Commission website explains, “It is the manufacturer’s responsibility to carry out the conformity assessment, set up the technical file, issue the declaration of conformity if requested by the customer, and affix the CE marking to the fabrication. Only then can this product be traded on the EEA market.”

We spoke to Hythe Marine Services, Compliance Manager, Paul Lessiter, who told us, “Just having the CE marking shows your prospective customers that you have gone through very stringent process controls in your production process. It shows that you’re checking things like materials, consumables, whether machines used are calibrated, that welders are qualified, that you’re putting the right people on the right jobs at the right time, and that you can certify all of this with full traceability.”

 

Responsibilities of Manufacturers using CE marking

As a CE accredited manufacturer, Hythe Marine Services has an obligation in ensuring its structural steel fabrications are safe and maintain the high standard required by BS EN 1090, ISO 3834 and the EEA market.

All components that comprise the fabrication are strictly controlled and audited. Line Managers in conjunction with an appointed Responsible Welding Coordinator, are responsible for the quality of the supply chain, the qualification of the fabricators, the traceability of materials, the approval of weld processes, the contractual and technical approvals. Auditing programmes are maintained and implemented through Paul Lessiter the Compliance Manager for HMS.

 

Looking to the future

HMS has embarked on a clear strategy of improvement, setting objectives from within the company that drive best kaizen practices across all of its functions, engaging with the marketplace and looking at potential future demands. The Company looks to demonstrate its achievements through an ongoing commitment to associated ISO Certifications.

Would you like to discuss a project?

Turnkey Belzona Solutions with Hythe Marine Services

Discover the processes and training behind Belzona applications.

Hythe Marine Services (HMS) is a highly competent applicator of all Belzona Polymeric Engineering Composites and Protective Coatings. Belzona marine coatings and metal repair composites are ideal solutions for the marine industry due to its ability to withstand extreme weather and long-term wear.

“Our products are specifically designed to cope with harsh offshore conditions and have exceptional resistance against erosion and corrosion.” – Belzona

 

What is Belzona?

Belzona are an internationally renowned manufacturer of repair and refurbishment services as well as coating inspection and application training. Their unique technology provides solutions to wide ranging repair needs, from full turnkey systems to in-situ repairs. Their mission is to ensure customers have the correct materials and knowledge to protect against erosion, abrasion, corrosion and chemical attack.

“Our approach to refurbishment and protection avoids the need for replacement, reducing repair and maintenance costs, and above all, downtime.” – Belzona

Founded in 1952 by entrepreneur Jorgen Svendsen, Belzona is now a global leader in repair compounds and industrial coatings. Hythe Marine Services understand the importance of providing bespoke and effective solutions to every client and Belzona’s materials, applications and training help make that possible.

Belzona commented that, “In recent years the Hythe Group have invested extensively in team training which has resulted in qualified members of the Group reaching Belzona Certified Trained Contractor status.”

 

What is Belzona used for?

Hythe Marine Services works with Belzona to protect and repair common erosive forces such as cavitation, impingement and entrainment. This ensures long term solutions against the effects of water erosion and corrosion in marine equipment. From mechanical parts through to damaged ships or offshore structures, Hythe Marine applies Belzona processes and materials to ensure exceptional defence against harsh offshore conditions.

By utilising a wide range of rapid and cold-curing marine coatings and metal repair composites, repairs can be safely carried out in-situ, to reduce downtime and the need for hot work.

“When hot work isn’t achievable we use Belzona. Using this method we got the system back in action in a fraction of the time of conventional methods!” Hythe Marine Belzona Applicator

 

What makes Belzona special?

“It’s our mission to exceed customers’ needs and expectations by providing long-lasting, quality repair and maintenance solutions” – Belzona. With over six decades of experience, the Belzona specification consists of the highest standard of long-term repair and protection, with the team priding themselves on sourcing the best raw materials available, to enable the highest quality manufacturing.

The company also has a cycle of continuous improvement, working to improve the standard of Belzona material application through theoretical and practical training programs. These programs enable Belzona certified engineers at Hythe Marine Services to learn and perfect their application skills.

 

Verified Belzona training

Hythe Marine Services have various engineers that are extensively trained to eliminate the risks of incorrect application practices. Belzona commented that, “To enable our reputation to remain as world leaders in our field we acknowledge the need for providing training whilst working alongside contractors.”

Belzona has state of the art training facilities where courses have been developed following internationally recognised Engineering Standards. Each course enhances application skills and provides the technical and practical knowledge required to adapt to the ever-changing demands of the marine industry. After completing training at Belzona headquarters, applicators can earn their verified status.

 

What Belzona services does HMS provide?

Within Hythe Marine Services, Belzona materials and processes are used for a variety of projects including sea tube repairs and initial sea tube protection measurements, steel pitting repairs, cold plate bonding and rubber seals.

“It is comforting to know that when a Certified Trained Contractor such as Hythe are involved then the level of application will be of a very high standard.” Steven Stay, Independent Area Consultant, Belzona Polymerics Ltd.

Hythe’s verified applicators are trained in a vast range of Belzona services to match all project needs, such as Belzona’s ceramic erosion resistant coating, which prolongs the life of marine equipment against weathering and water wear.

Looking for Belzona solutions?

Alister O’Neill Appointed as Production Manager at Hythe Marine

An introduction to Hythe’s newest team member.

Alister O’Neill first came into contact with Hythe Marine Services (HMS) as a subcontracted welder whilst working for Elta Fans Ltd. After gaining years of experience working within the marine, automotive and military industries, Alister is now joining Hythe Marine as a Production Manager.

Under his new role, Alister will be taking the lead on project, team and production processes. His extensive background within the marine industry and with welding inspection will be a valuable addition to the workforce at Hythe Marine.

Hythe Marine Services’ support to customers has been continually growing at a manageable rate. Josh Mathias, Hythe Marine’s Managing Director, told us “we have been able to take our time employing the correct person to ensure the continuation of quality service and on-time delivery”.

To support this growth, a significant part of Alister’s new role will involve the Quality, Safety, Health & Environment (QSHE) side of the business. Some of his main focuses will be quality control, business and production efficiencies as well as health and safety. Alister will also have a direct line to the welding and compliance team, in order to improve and maintain high production standards.

From Apprentice to Production Manager

At the start of his working life, Alister was an apprentice at FBM Marine on the Isle of Wight. Skills gained during his apprenticeship included welding and making aluminium parts for ferries and lifeboats. After his apprenticeship, Alister worked as a chargehand, whilst continuing to provide welding services within the marine and automotive industries.

Alister’s next role was as a welder with Elta Fans Ltd., a leading manufacturer specialising in large bespoke fans. It was with Elta Fans that Alister continued to develop and obtain additional qualifications to become a Certified Welding Inspector. In this role, Alister was subcontracted to Hythe Marine where he spent a lot of time on-site working with, and getting to know, Hythe Marine Services.

Alister’s career has demonstrated the rewards of working hard and maintaining high standards. The move to Production Management was after a production-based Foreman role where Alister told us, “I worked my way up from the Foreman of a large factory to the Production Manager of a smaller site.”

After Elta Fan’s Ltd, Alister moved to his new role as a Works Manager at Veotec (now part of the Woz Group). He stayed with Veotec for 5 years, making high-end separators, eliminators and filtration equipment for the oil, gas and marine market. The role at Veotec involved managing the majority of the production process – “After design, the entire production process was down to me, all the way through to packaging, shipping and transport.”

Due to company changes, Alister turned down a new position within the company which would involve a relocation. Because of this, he completely changed his role, company and industry and moved to Eberspächer UK. At this company, Alister was the Production Manager for a multi-million pound foreign military project. His main responsibility was setting up a lean production line to facilitate the production of 1,500 units at the lowest cost. “I was there to set up a 5S, lean manufacturing production line,” and it was after this project that Alister took on the role of Production Manager at Hythe Marine Services.

In a snapshot, Alister is “Very efficient, hard-working with a strong ability to multitask.”

Prioritising quality is always at the forefront of his work and projects, and he believes that nothing substandard should ever leave a site. Customers pay for a good product and the team should be proud of everything they produce.

Years of experience in welding and an inspection background has honed Alister’s strong attention to detail. He stated, “I’m very practical. Coming from a welding background and the marine industry I understand what it takes, from the ground up, to produce a product.”

The Role of a Production Manager

For Alister, the role of a Production Manager means being the central hub of a project to find and iron out any problems. Another key aspect of the role is collating and communicating information to make everybody aware of how the products will be produced, “I see the role of Production Manager as the main link or conduit between the workforce, project and design engineers.” 

Within a Production Manager role, it’s necessary to plan and react appropriately to external and internal factors. These may include changes in demand, the capacity of machine and floor and availability of skills. The overall responsibility is to ensure outputs are at the required quality, specification and within cost parameters.

As well as the Production side of the role there is a strong focus on people-management, creating a multifunctional workforce. Alister believes in investing time with people to develop their skills. In terms of allocating roles within projects, Alister said: “It’s about matching the right team to the right job based on reading people, their ways of working, and the work they turn out.” 

When asked what he’s most looking forward to in his new role Alister stated, “I have a strong understanding of the marine industry, particularly within the welding and fabrication services side of the business and am looking forward to getting more involved in these areas!”

The specialist knowledge of contracted structural engineers

 

An insight into the world of Structural Design

As well as in-house services, Hythe Marine also provides contracted talent to external large scale projects. Currently, a Hythe Marine Services (HMS) contracted Designer is working on a submarine design project over in Barrow-on-Furness with BAE Systems. We spoke with them to find out a bit more about what this involves.

 

How does the contracting process work at Hythe Marine? 

Within BAE Systems, Hythe Designers work on machinery seating as well as checking models and output drawings. These checks involve special expertise in order to feedback improvements or necessary re-works to the other Designers.

Alongside these tasks, this particular engineer provides services such as testing Foran (the CAD package) and providing CAD support to the Designers. CAD stands for computer-aided design, and in the case of BAE Systems will contribute to the production of precise and easily-modifiable designs.

“I first used Foran around 10 years ago, so I have a good working knowledge of the package. Already knowing my way around Foran also led to me being involved with the publishing side of things which sends the model data into the database.”

Completing an apprenticeship as a Structural Designer on the Trident project at Barrow meant this Hythe Designer had useful previous experience of working on submarines. Also, their knowledge of the Foran CAD package and how BAE use it means they are able to assist with ‘best practice’ processes.

 

The life of a shipbuilding Structural Designer

Being a Structural Designer covers a range of roles. Potential activities include creating the main structural elements such as the hull, decks and bulkheads, to the secondary structure like machinery seating, ladders and walkways. These jobs require expert knowledge and experience to provide the best design to complete the manufacture within a given timescale.

A BAE Designer may create designs from data provided by engineers, who do shock/stress calculations to the size and thicknesses of a plate. For smaller seats, designers will do all the design work themselves.

Part of this Structural Designers role is also as a design checker, which involves quality-assuring other Designers work to ensure it conforms to specification.

 

An average day at BAE Systems 

After an hour-long commute to BAE in Barrow, then begins the exciting day of troubleshooting and completing any tasks that arise. Other Designers will come to Hythe’s Structural Designer with various problems, such as with the CAD package or questions about the job and specifications. Often finding themselves doing several jobs at one time, it’s impossible to know what to expect from each day to the next. This way of working requires the ability to prioritise and multitask. Alongside all of that, they are also attending workshops and meetings regarding the software and processes.

A hectic day may not sound ideal to everyone, but this Structural Designer assured us, “My average day at work probably looks chaotic to some people because, unlike the other designers, I’m not really given specific tasks. I actually like this way of working because I’m always doing something different.”

 

Not just ships and submarines

When asked about past projects this Structural Designer found particularly interesting, they responded: “Possibly my most enjoyable contract was on a yacht called Mirabella V.” 

Mirabella V is a luxury superyacht with a 300 foot GRP hull. Within this project, this Structural Designer’s role was to accurately model surfaces to produce the moulds for things like the rudder, boom and even the Jacuzzi! This yacht also held a motorboat, for getting to and from shore, within its hull. “I had to model the motorboat to make sure it fit in the space provided.” 

Also within the Mirabella V project, this Structural Designer designed the shape of the radar arch for the yacht. One benefit of this project is the ability to see their work and be proud of what they created. They told us, “On most contracts, you don’t really see your work in the finished product because it’s usually not visible from outside, in the case of Mirabella V, I can look at the yacht and see the work I did.”

In addition to ships, submarines and superyachts, this Structural Designer has also worked within the Aerospace industry. A common trend amongst all industries is quality-assurance and checking.

When asked about how this role relates to their current role with Hythe Marine they said that checking within Aerospace requires certification as a checker on specific aircraft, whereas checking in his current industry is more down to experience, “However, checking in both sectors does require a good attention to detail and the ability to stand your ground when others might not agree with you.”

 

Being part of the Hythe Marine Team 

Working for Hythe Marine on and off for over 20 years has allowed this Designer to see the company’s progression and development. From being a Mathon Engineering employee in 1998, they saw Mathon become Avrotech Design, which later became part of Hythe Marine Services. Reminiscing about their history with Hythe Marine, they told us, “I actually visited Hythe Marine with Avrotech when they first looked at getting involved, so I’ve seen Hythe grow into the great company it is today.”

As somebody who knows the ins and outs of Hythe Marine, it was great to get some insight into what makes them different from the rest.

“In my experience, Hythe Marine stands out because it always offers top quality personnel. From a design point of view, gathering personnel is done mostly by referral rather than advertising so the client always knows they will get good quality people. Hythe tend to offer the same team for each project so for a lot of contracts, the client already knows the core team they are getting.”

Bespoke machining services at Hythe Marine

Meet the man in the machine shop.

Being part of the Hythe Marine Services (HMS) team means working alongside highly skilled individuals who are leaders in their fields. Just within the machining side of the business alone there are a huge range of in-house abilities and specialist knowledge. Some of the services provided include bespoke Precision Machining and CNC Profiling for one-offs and small batch capabilities.

Every single project has rigorous quality checks, both throughout and after completion. As well as this, the company focuses on continuous improvement for procedures and staff development.

Imagine being given a piece of machinery you’ve never seen before and then being asked to recreate it within a couple of days. This is one of the common challenges faced by the Hythe Marine Machine Shop team.

 

The Man in the Machine Shop

Before joining Hythe Marine seven months ago one member of that team had been in the aircraft industry for twenty-one years. Straight out of school he began his apprenticeship with Highbury College and J M Automatics. During these four transformative years he developed skills he still uses on a daily basis. These years included his first experiences of tool-making, and learning how to replicate, in precision detail, a bespoke object.

Since the start of this young machinists career, he has worked hard to continually learn and perfect his skills, stating that, “The harder you work on a project, the more pride you have when you finally see the finished result!”

This drive and dedication meant it wasn’t long before he was on the production line where projects were varied and challenging, building parts for helicopters and aircraft as well as pretty much any other bespoke items requested by customers. After many great years at J M Automatics he felt it was time for new challenges and for the last 7 months has been a Mechanical Fitter/Machinist at Hythe Marine Services.

 

The Jump From Aircraft to Marine Engineering

Moving to a new industry and company after 21 years takes courage. Gone was the familiar environment and in its place were dockyards, boating terminology and Navy abbreviations. Initially, this change was a struggle but the welcoming atmosphere at Hythe Marine meant this machinist quickly settled in and became part of the team.

 

Daily Life at Hythe Marine

Even with years of experience in the tool making industry, there are always new problems to solve. Working at Hythe can be a high-pressure job with numerous teams working in tandem to get the job done. Much of the work is an internal process with raw materials coming in and leaving as high quality finished products.

“There are the welders who work with the Pipe Fitters, who work with the Fabricators, who work with the Machine Shop. There are so many trades coming together to create a great finished product. Every day is a learning curve, even to me who’s been doing this for 22 years.  A lot of the projects are bespoke one-offs that require reverse engineering to recreate an object. This process of working out the mechanics behind an item is something I’ve enjoyed since childhood.”

 

What goes on in the Machine Shop?

Being a Hythe Machinist involves a lot of work on the manual milling machine, which uses cutters to create horizontal and vertical profiles, and drill or tap holes.

“My previous company required me to work to extremely precise, millimetric accuracy measurements. Precision that is still present in my work at Hythe.” 

What the Hythe Marine machine shop is working on often depends on customer’s drawings, specifications and timeframes. The wide range of knowledge and skills within the team means Hythe Marine are able to manufacture and install all types of systems. This spans from complex pipe systems through to structural and non-structural fabrication.

Occasionally the team comes across parts that are unknown, so there are always opportunities to learn and improve.

“If the customer wants it, and Hythe is able to do it, we just get it done.”

 

What’s it like to work at Hythe Marine?

When asked what to say to someone considering working at Hythe Marine, they simply said, “If there’s an opportunity at Hythe Marine then grab it with both hands and don’t let go. Training and opportunities here are invaluable.” 

A clear theme from this chat was the familial atmosphere at Hythe. From his very first day, it was clear he felt like part of the team, with everybody always ready to help each other out. “If you’re ever struggling with something, somebody will always stop and help you out. From the apprentices to the experienced heads, they all have a minute to help. Everyone’s friendly and working together. It’s a really nice place to work.” 

Heritage, history and growth: a lifetime of naval architecture design

Hythe Marine Service (HMS) is the leading turnkey provider of design, engineering and repair services to the marine, civil engineering and waste management sectors.

This family run business is known predominantly for their delivery of quality engineering and fabrication work, combined with their ability to seemingly drop everything to complete what others might refer to as “mission impossible” projects.

What many people don’t realise however is that there is a hidden gem within this modest business. In-house HMS retains an experienced team of shipbuilding engineers and designers, with full SC clearance, and a vast background in commercial and MOD projects. Design talent that dates right back to the 1960’s.

The roots of Hythe Marine’s relationship with design, many people may know better, under the company names Mathon Engineering, and then later as Avrotech Design. Two companies with a rich historic connection to naval architecture that were absorbed by HMS a number of years ago.

 

Who were Mathon Engineering and Avrotech Design?

Mathon Engineering, was set up in May 1961 and specialised in the supply of contract designers to the government, who then set them to work on varied projects; such as the construction of Type-45 battle ships, right through to submarines and super yachts. Mathon Engineering worked closely with the MOD, as well as warship design and construction company, Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd.

Mike Cook-Yarborough, who worked for Mathon Engineering and Avrotech Design in the 60’s and 70’s commented, “The most impressive projects we worked on must have been the support work that we completed for the Royal Navy and BAE Systems. This included working on naval ships such as HMS Bulwark, Tyne, Severn and Mersey and some others that we can’t talk about!”

Mathon Engineering Netherland BV opened in 1970 supporting all the major shipyards in Holland, before later being renamed as Avrotech Design.

“Whilst working in Holland I completed many concept designs for tankers as well as a high-speed passenger catamaran car ferry, the first of its kind. The reputation that came with Mathon Engineering and Avrotech designers and engineers was outstanding, their skill at that time, was unrivalled,” Mike commented.

Since being absorbed by HMS a number of years ago the team have been busy working on a range of extensive design projects, from naval submarines to carrier ships and bespoke super yachts.

 

Building the future of naval design talent

HMS has been working on submarine designs for many years in Barrow, under the request of BAE. The team are leaders in the field, through their innovative use of a lifetime of naval design pedigree and industry knowledge, partnered with the introduction of new modern technologies and applications.

When asked about the future of naval architecture and design Josh Mathias, Managing Director at HMS commented, “Our reputation for providing bespoke solutions to unique projects, by combining both modern and traditional craftsmanship, has been the best source of new projects for our team. We have secured a number of contracts around the globe through our ability to combine the skills of the past, with the talent of the future. Many people don’t realise that the roots of our business came from naval architecture and design. Simply put, it’s in our blood.

It is however imperative that our team retain and develop the skills brought on-board from Mathon and Avrotech to take us forward into the future. This is why apprentices make up 10% of our workforce. We are making great strides toward shaping the talented designers and engineers of the future, something myself and the team are incredibly proud of.”

 

Firm Foundations

HMS have a strong presence in Southampton, Portsmouth’s naval base, Trafalgar Wharf in Porchester as well as Plymouth, Rosyth and Barrow-in-Furness. The team are deployable 24/7 around the world and are continuously working to create a one-stop-shop of dependable, innovative in-house capabilities, from one-off bespoke projects through to full refit projects and management packages.

Speak with any member of this close-knit team and you will quickly realise that their emphasis on continually inspiring their workforce, and instilling rigorous quality standards, is an ethos adopted by everyone.

A lifetime of pedigree, mixed in with Josh’s vision for technological advancement and personnel development, seems to be a winning formula for the crew at HMS and personally we can’t wait to see what the next fifty years bring.

***

Looking to find out a bit more?

A careers starter: Hythe Marine Services apprenticeship scheme

An interview with Hythe Marine Services apprentice Tyrrell Ford. Take a look behind the scenes into the life of an HMS apprentice.

 

About Hythe Marine Services

Hythe Marine Services (HMS) is the leading turnkey provider of engineering, fabrication and repair services to the marine, civil engineering and waste management sectors. They currently employ 10% of their workforce as apprentices across different trades within the business, which includes pipe fitting, welding, light and heavy fabrication and hands on machining, to name a few.

We spoke with Tyrrell Ford who is currently participating in the apprenticeship scheme to find out more about his experience with Hythe Marine Services.

 

How did you find out about the Hythe Marine apprenticeship scheme?

I was in full time education studying Marine Engineering and as part of my course I had to complete a weeks’ work experience. I contacted Hythe Marine Services, who offered me the experience for five days and at the end of that time they suggested I join them on their apprenticeship scheme. As I was still completing my course, they worked with me to ensure that I could finish it, allowing me time off when needed to complete my studies.

 

What interested you in the Hythe Marine apprenticeship scheme?

I was in the workshop with the teams for that initial week and saw what went on behind the scenes. I was made to feel like a part of the family within that first week and was able to get an insight into all the different trades, after that I knew I wanted to be part of the Hythe team.

 

What have been the highlights of the apprenticeship scheme for you?

There are so many highlights, I don’t know where to start. One of the important life skills I have learnt is how to work well within a team. As an independent family run business, I found that all staff and managers are very dedicated to making the apprenticeship a success, both as a scheme and for each individual. Everyone has spent so much time with me ensuring that I have the skills required to tackle all projects.

They supported, and paid, for me to complete driving lessons during work time and paid for my driving test too. Clearly this is a benefit to the company going forward but also a hugely independent step for me and the other apprentices.

As well as learning all the skills required for fabrication and welding, Hythe Marine Services are now supporting me through my 3.0 CSWIP welding inspection course, designed for welders who carry out the visual examination of welded joints. The apprenticeship is linked to NVQ and City & Guilds qualifications, with training in partnership with Highbury College, Southampton University, PETA and BAE Systems, so I will complete the apprenticeship with lots of knowledge and new qualifications.

 

What is your normal day like on the apprenticeship scheme?

Every day is different, there are different jobs going on at all times, some are long-term projects and others are shorter one-off tasks. One of the most interesting jobs I take part in is weld tests on different materials to see what passes and fails. Thanks to this apprenticeship I am skilled in dealing with a large variety of materials.

This training has also enabled me to conduct 6G pipe tests on the Type 45 Royal Navy vessels, guided missile destroyers. Some days, I can’t believe this is my job!

Many staff at Hythe Marine have been there for quite a few years and they’re all very encouraging of the scheme and not at all threatened by us young newcomers. They seem to be so happy to share their knowledge.

 

What is your plan post apprenticeship?

I started my apprenticeship in 2017 and it’s a three year scheme. After completing the apprenticeship, I am guaranteed a job with the team. Our main base is in Portsmouth and at the moment I am mainly based there, because of the time I need to spend at college, but it is normal to spend time on some of the other sites too, like Rosyth and Barrow.

I am planning to stay at Hythe for as long as possible as they are very keen to highlight capabilities and push you to be the best that you can be. I imagine the future will involve welding expansion courses, as I have taken a real interest in the welding side of the business.

As part of the apprenticeship we attend first aid and health and safety training and in the future I may complete a safety management courses as well.

I really enjoy doing the scheme, I like being hands-on with things and would rather be earning money whilst I am learning. There are lots of staff at Hythe that have been here for a long time and each one of them has  provided a huge amount of support for me, it’s a family run business and we all feel like a part of it.

I would like to eventually give something back to Hythe by supporting future generations of apprentices.

 

Join the Hythe Apprenticeship Scheme

If you’re interested in becoming a Hythe Marine apprentice simply get in touch with our team via our website. In your email enclose a copy of your CV along with an outline of what you are interested in doing. We also need you to provide a point of contact, a brief description of how you heard about us and why you want to do an apprenticeship with Hythe Marine in particular.

Upon review of your application a member of our team will get in touch. The next steps would be to bring you in for a week to a month to give you a proper understanding of what you will be signing up for, in addition, this helps us to get to know you better. After this process, if all is a good fit, you could be looking at being our next apprentice!

I was made to feel like a part of the family within that first week and was able to get an insight into all the different trades, after that I knew I wanted to be a part of the Hythe Team.