Military’s Silver Award received with pride by UK Docks

UK DOCKS has been formally presented with its Armed Forces’ Silver Award in recognition of its continuing efforts to support ex-military personnel.

The company has previously earned an Armed Forces Bronze Award and is delighted to have built on that achievement to the point where a Silver has now been given to UK Docks.

Members of the senior management team attended a presentation ceremony at the Ramside Hall Hotel on the edge of Durham on behalf of UK Docks to receive the Award.

UK Docks’ Jonathan Wilson, Gary Wilson and Stephen Lee receive the Armed Forces’ Silver Award on behalf of the company.

And they were joined by fellow winners of the award on a night when senior members of the military thanked companies for their participation in a scheme which allows former military personnel a clear transition into jobs and careers outside of the armed services.

UK Docks has now earned a Silver Award to go witht

Explaining to fellow guests, the UK Docks Silver award, The master of ceremonies gave the following citation to guests on the night to explain what the company does and how it has sought to support the armed forces.

“UK Docks Marine Services is a family run maritime support business based in South Shields but with a global reach. 

“Since 1992 they have built an excellent reputation for their delivery across a wide range of maritime repair and conversion work in the offshore and defence arenas, delivering from across five sites both in the North East and on the South coast.

“With their HQ centred on the River Tyne they are very much part of the community and no more so than the Defence community.

“They are proud employers of 15 Veterans as well as several Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and Reservists.

“These personal links to the Armed Forces is the silver thread which runs through to this well-deserved award.

“Their enduring commitment to the local Sea Cadets at TS Collingwood is an exemplar for all; Christmas parties, cadet bursaries and sail training for those most in need, is just some of what they do. 

“They are also selfless in their support of local charities including Veterans in Crisis which operates in Sunderland.

“Following their signing of the Armed Forces Covenant in 2018 and their award of Bronze in 2022, this Silver Award is justly achieved this year. Many congratulations!”

UK Docks managing director, Jonathan Wilson, said: “The Award is for everyone at UK Docks who has been involved in extending and improving our offer to former armed forces personnel.

“The company has always had strong links to former members of the Armed Forces, recognising the expertise and personal qualities they bring to UK Docks both in our sites around the country and also in our work abroad.

“We take great pride in the contracts we have with the Ministry of Defence, including the servicing and maintaining of the Royal Navy’s five Batch 2 vessels - HMS’s Tamar, Trent, Medway, Spey and Forth - and the icebreaker HMS Protector, across the world.

“But closer to home we focus on supporting organisations close to the armed forces and prioritise the employment of ex-service personnel who have contributed greatly to the company’s growth and success in the past few decades.”

Shape of things to come as historic rum store’s impressive new look unveiled

THE first glimpse of what a restored Rum Store in Gosport’s Victoria Quay will look like after its impending multi-million-pound renovation has been revealed.

The architect’s impression of the transformed derelict Grade II listed building shows an impressive, elegant structure which transforms the original Victorian warehouse into a perfectly appointed 21st-century facade,

The reimagined Rum Store on Victoria Quay in Gosport as it will look after renovation and return to public function.

Published by Gosport Borough Council, the design illustrates how the 150-year-old building will transition from a redundant site into an engine of regeneration for the local community.

The UK Docks-owned building was formerly the house of the entire Royal Navy store of rum rations but ran into decline in the early years of the 20th century and was critically damaged in the Second World War when German bombs destroyed most of the first floor of the vast building.

The Rum Store as it currently stands with much of its outer facade retained but almost entirely derelict inside.

Now it is set to transform from an eyesore into a centre of growth, with a restored building being the centrepiece of a transformative reimagining of Victoria Quay.

The proposed renovation would create nearly 7,000 sqm of mixed-use employment space, mainly for maritime businesses like yacht brokers and naval architects. 

Other units in the building are earmarked for retail and leisure, including a possible rooftop terrace bar and restaurant with views across Portsmouth Harbour.

It's expected that the restored building could be completed as early as summer 2026, creating up to 200 jobs and boosting the local economy by £11m a year.

Costing £22m, the revamp would see the Grade II listed property turned into mixed employment space with some retail and leisure units.

Proposed works to renovate the building include:

• Specialist conservation repairs to the historic structure

• Reconstruction of collapsed floors

• New open plan gallery entrance with staircase and lifts

• Reconstruction of the second floor which was demolished following World War II bomb damage

• Construction of a rooftop bar and terrace

The project is led by UK Docks Marine Servies and Pritchard Architecture with the support of Gosport Borough Council, sponsored by a grant from the Government’s Levelling-Up fund.

In 2023, Gosport Borough Council led a bid for Government Levelling Up funding to renovate the Rum Store building, match-funded by UK Docks.

The council's bid also included support for public realm improvements along the waterfront to encourage more residents and visitors to discover the attractions and businesses on that route. 

This will include creating new physical links to help more people access the waterfront while telling the story of heritage through wayfinding, public art and more.

Ben Mason, UK Docks Portfolio Manager at Victoria Quay, said: "This project could provide huge opportunities for Gosport residents and businesses. 

“Working with Gosport Borough Council has given us access to government funding and helped unlock solutions to problems that were bigger than just our site at Victoria Quay, such as local infrastructure.

“The council has big plans for regeneration in the borough and we're delighted to be a partner in that."

Councillor Peter Chegwyn, leader of Gosport Borough Council, said: "The Rum Store is a key piece of the jigsaw of improving Gosport's waterfront. 

“Not only could this project restore a derelict historic building, it'll create a new commercial and leisure destination for people to enjoy. 

“We hope it'll welcome more residents and visitors alike to explore a more connected waterfront."

Full details can be seen in the planning portal on the Gosport Borough Council website.

Reconnecting Gosport's historic waterfront

The Rum Store is a part of the council's wider plans to revitalise and reconnect the town's historic waterfront.

New video showcases UK Docks' growing marine services portfolio nationwide

A new video highlighting UK Docks marine services operations across the country has been created by Annelies James of 22MIdnight.

The video underlines the company’s position as the country’s largest, independent, privately-owned marine services provider.

It showcases our bases at UK Docks Tyneside, Teesside, Cremyll and Gosport (where Annelies is based), through video and drone footage.

DJI drones were used, operating under a drone licence and aware of restricted fly zones while also dodging high winds, (and birds!), to get wide angles, spins, pans and float. 

The software used was Adobe Premier Pro, alongside copyright-free music and creative use of graphic design.

Annelies said of the project: "It was pretty complicated work pulling it all together, but really enjoyable at the same time and we're happy with the results.

"It shows how impressive UK Docks is and the video can be used at displays and exhibitions, as well as online, as an engaging and interesting way to interact with clients and customers."

The 22Midnight video shows where the company currently stands, what we do and what we offer to the marine sector around our shores in 2024.

Jonathan Wilson, managing director of UK Docks, said: “We’re delighted with 22Midnight’s work which is perfect as a visual presentation of where the company stands and the services it can provide.

“It’s important in business to use every tool at your disposal to highlight and explain your services and a video like this is a simple but very effective way of getting our message across.

“There’s also some great drone footage on there, which helps the viewer get a grasp of what UK Docks facilities are about - something which is hard to appreciate sometimes when you’re at ground level.”