Ben takes reins of UK Docks' future business development

UK Docks Marine Services has promoted its Gosport-based Portfolio Manager, Ben Mason, to a newly-created role of Business Development director as it eyes and manages significant expansion.

The job has been created to allow UK Docks to take advantage of significant growth in recent years, which has, in turn, brought further opportunities to expand at what is an important juncture for the company.

Ben Mason, UK Docks’ new Business Development director

UK Docks, founded on a single slipway in South Shields in the North East in 1992 offering marine services and repair, has gone from strength to strength over the decades.

It now has bases around the country and operates globally, with growth accelerating in recent years.

In 2024, UK Docks won a £250 million contract to maintain and service five Royal Navy vessels at home and abroad. This year, the company announced the reopening of two newly leased dry docks on Teesside, where it currently operates.

Ben’s promotion is a sign that the company is ambitious to expand further and capitalise on the many business opportunities it sees for future development.

UK Docks managing director, Jonathan Wilson, confirmed: “Ben will be leading our growth strategy, forging key partnerships and identifying new opportunities to bring our services to more clients and communities within the Defence and Commercial sector.

“He brings extensive experience and industry knowledge, as well as a track record of success in his previous role with UKD as Portfolio Manager. 

“He also has a real passion for what he does, and for what UKD does, and has demonstrated his ability to spot opportunity, build meaningful relationships, and drive strategic vision, which makes him the perfect fit for the job.”

Ben finished his education at the University of Southampton before embarking on a varied career which included almost 20 years at BAE Systems, first as a project manager, then as assistant head of its small boats sector.

He joined UK Docks in 2020 and has spent the last few years successfully running and developing the company's specialist maritime services hub at Victoria Quay in Gosport.

The thriving Victoria Quay in Gosport

Ben said: “I’m really looking forward to taking up the new role.

“I’m excited about leading the business development strategy, building key business relationships and enabling the business to continue to grow through its ever-expanding client and partner base. 

“I’ve enjoyed my role as Portfolio Manager and in the last five years at UK Docks have met some great team leaders and members and have created a successful marine servicing hub at Victoria Quay, which I will continue to oversee.”

UK Docks claims North’s Family Business of the Year Award on night of national success

UK Docks Marine Services has won top national awards at the annual Family Business United awards night in London.

The Wilson family mark a night of national success for UK Docks at the Family Business United awards night in London.

The national event saw businesses from all over the United Kingdom competing for the honour of being recognised as those with families at their heart.

And UK Docks founder, Harry Wilson, travelled to the finals held in the Royal Geographical Society building in South Kensington, with his sons and company directors, Chris, Gary and John, to enjoy the awards they entered for the first time this year.

On the night, UK Docks emerged as the winners of the North of England (Northern Ireland) Family Business of the Year award.

But to their surprise, they also won the national Community Support and Involvement Family Award and came runners-up to the overall national competition.

UK Docks wins its second major award of the Family Business Awards night - the win coming completely out of the blue.

Jonathan Wilson, managing director of UK Docks, said: “It was a great event and venue with a good mix of businesses from all sectors. 

“The award meant a lot to us, not just to receive the recognition but to have achieved it as a family. 

“The second award came as a total surprise to all of us, and to get two awards and be runners up for the supreme national award was beyond expectation.”

The company has won a string of awards since being founded in South Shields on a single slipway on the River Tyne in the early 1990s.

Now, it has bases on a national scale and operates globally, serving and maintaining commercial and military vessels across the world, though it retains its headquarters in South Shields.

And across the years of progress, the Wilson family has worked hard to ensure that team spirit and togetherness have been maintained across its centres.

Paul Andrews, managing director of Family Business United, which celebrates the sector, said: “Family businesses are the engine room of the UK economy and UK Docks Marine Services is a family business entrenched with family values, a rich history and invested in the communities in which they operate, which resonated with the judges.

The UK Docks team celebrates a very big night for the company’s reputation at the London awards night.

"As a multigenerational family firm with a strong family presence throughout, three generations currently working together, they also have a long-term commitment to charity and community."

Jonathan said: “Over the years, we've developed and expanded the business and grown together as a family through many challenges and milestones. 

“What keeps us going is our commitment and passion for marine engineering and how far we can develop the business.

“Since starting the business, Harry and with the integration of his sons over the years, have built a strong family bond that extends across all our varied business activities. 

“Our passion and bond are deeply rooted in diligence, integrity, and adaptability, which have become the cornerstone of our success, fostering unity and purpose in everything we do. “Working together throughout the decades has highlighted our individual strengths, character and weaknesses, enabling us as a family to make informed decisions at every level of our company’s growth and development. 

“Our dedication to stability and progress, coupled with and supported by our deep belief in ourselves and each other, has allowed us to overcome failures, successes and everyday challenges. 

“That sees us thrive in our ever-changing industry and market environment.

“Our passion for our company and shared bond, strong work ethic, has allowed us to create not only stability for our family but also secure employment for many others. From employees to subcontractors and suppliers, our commitment to their success reflects the values that define our business.”

Paul Andrews said UK Docks deserved all the recognition they received at the national awards night, and he was not surprised to see them feature in three separate awards.

"They are a very strong business financially, committed to giving back and making a positive difference and showing strong attributes in all areas of their submission," he said.

"The passion and bond of the family, together with their strong work ethic, have allowed them to create secure employment for many others, in a sector which, without the drive of their chairman to revive ship repair and reopen yards, when so many others were closing, stood them in good stead.  

“His bold decision-making and leadership have not just built a thriving family business but also a respected legacy within the sector that is now being driven by the next generation."

"They are a great British family business that embodies all of the values that these awards were set up to recognise, strong family values, a real sense of purpose backed by grit, determination and entrepreneurial spirit and deserve all the accolades that winning this award affords them."

Both Shields Ferry’s shipshape for the summer season ahead, thanks to UK Docks

VITAL maintenance work has been successfully completed on the Shields Ferry service ahead of the busy summer season to ensure they operate at peak performance.
The UK Docks’ team in South Shields carried out the work on its River Drive slipway with the Pride of the Tyne coming in for extensive work before Spirit of the Tyne replaced her sister vessel for a much shorter stay.

The Port of Tyne ferry returns to the Tyne after maintenance work at UK Docks.

Nexus, the public body that runs the service, ordered the essential repairs on both of its vessels to ensure they are at their best for the busiest time of year for the iconic Tyne crossing.
The 32-year-old ferry, Pride of the Tyne, has undergone her annual service as well as a refit overhaul on her two propulsion units, while the newer Spirit of the Tyne has passed her annual service.

The Spirit of the Tyne ferry leaves the River Drive slipway in South Shields after work by UK Docks.

The works were extensive and required both vessels to spend time in dry dock.
For the Pride of the Tyne, it involved the removal of her propulsion unit, which needed to be sent away for specialist repair..
Gary Wilson, director at UK Docks, said: “Both Pride and Spirit had their main services carried out, which involved having a full clean down, corrosion removed, and paintwork refreshed. Valves were serviced and anodes replaced.
 “Pride unexpectedly required major work on her propulsion, which was removed with the help of a 250-ton crane and sent away for service.”

Engine removal from the Pride of Tyne for essential repair, carried with the aid of a 250-ton crane.

This extended her time out of the water substantially to 10 weeks and meant that both the service work and time on the Spirit had to be reduced to accommodate work on the Pride.
Gary said: “Fortunately, the younger Spirit didn’t require any unexpected major works, and she was able to go back in the water after two weeks when there was a good tide and the weather was calm.
“Nexus utilised the extended time Pride was out of the water to replace her engine room fans and the main fire/bilge valve.
“Her mooring bollards, external wooden doors and perry buoy holders were refurbished, and her engine room was also extensively cleaned out.
“We’re delighted that both vessels are now back to their best working condition and want to thank Nexus for their cooperation and support.
“Our great working relationship with the Nexus engineering team meant that even with the challenges, we achieved both ferry services within the allotted Nexus slip time.”

The Pride of Tyne ferry undergoes repair and maintenance work on UK Docks’ South Shields slipway.

Kevin Leonard, customer services operations manager at Nexus, said: “The Shields Ferry is an iconic local service and we carry out these works on an annual basis to ensure it can keep doing the daily Tyne crossings we operate between North and South Shields.
“It was great to work once again with the ship repair specialists at UK Docks, whose slipway just down the River Tyne from our South Shields landing is vital to these projects' success.”
Both vessels have now been assessed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) certification and given a clean bill of health.
The ferries will resume peak duties this summer and operate as normal for the rest of the year. 

Maintenance of the ferries takes place annually to ensure they remain in safe and serviceable conditions at all times during passenger services.

UK Docks' engineers pass training course with flying colours

UK DOCKS South has again invested in the skills of its workforce with three employees undertaking the Marine Electrical Skill Bootcamp run by the British Maritime Training & Assessment team.

This course has been invaluable in giving our engineers a better understanding of electrical systems fitted to vessels and electrical theory and fault diagnosis.

Successful engineers Tilina Dilhara, Oliver Coughlan and Tommy Peters with director Charles Barley, (centre right)

We are proud of their application and hard work on studying this course and congratulate our engineers, Tilina Dilhara, Oliver Coughlan and Tommy Peters on passing this course.

The certification is testimony to them gaining invaluable knowledge and skills to become better engineers

Congratulating them, director Charles Barley said: “It’s so important that companies invest in the quality and knowledge of their workforce and full credit to Tillnia, Oliver and Tommy for competing their courses.

“UK Docks would also like to offer a big thanks again to Brian McKeown from the British Maritime and Assessment Team, who organised this course.”

South Shields Sea Cadets boats set to come in...thanks to UK Docks

SOUTH Shields Sea Cadets 315 Corps named ‘TS Collingwood’ are feeling buoyant as work nears completion on the first of two brand-new boats.

The builds have been made possible thanks to a £10,000 donation from Cadets’ president, Harry Wilson, MBE, founder of UK Docks Marine Services in River Drive as well as material support directly from UK Docks.

However, the assembly of the boats has been a real challenge, with the boats needing to meet stringent standards in compliance with the requirements of the Royal Navy, Cadet Forces Training Afloat Regulations and Safety.

Cadet 1st Class Amber, Cadet Corporal Abbie and Cadet Amaani with Vice Chair Keith Trotter, NEMT Chair Alec Renwick, and John Eltringham MBE chair of TS Collingwood.

John Eltringham, chairman of TS Collingwood, admitted: “It has been a tough job and has taken over a year to get to the stage where we’re ready to put the boat in the water.

“But it has been worth it because not only has the work been carried out to the highest standards but also because the cadets have learned a lot from being involved; we’ve used it as a training exercise for them.”

Cadet 1st Class Amber, Cadet Amaani, TS Collingwood Vice Chair Keith Trotter, NEMT Chair Alec Renwick, (In boat) Cadet Corporal Abbie, John Eltringham MBE TS Collingwood chair.

The boats are being built by the North East Maritime Trust, a charitable organisation housed at the other end of Wapping Street on Satellite Quay.

The Maritime Trust focuses on historic working boat restoration, repair and conservation, so the new builds presented an unusual challenge.

John said: “The hard work has been in the assembly, but the first boat is due to be completed around Easter, and because of the knowledge and experience gained, it should mean that the second is ready for some time in the Autumn.”

Cadet Amber, Cadet Corporal Adie and Cadet Armaani and one of the new boats.

The new arrivals will be a boost to the T.S. Collingwood Cadets, who currently have more than 60 cadets supported by around 20 volunteer staff.

The Cadet’s current boats, Trinity 500s, are over a decade old.

“They’re good boats but they naturally attract wear and tear,” said John. “They were produced in partnership with Trinity House as part of Trinity House’s 500th anniversary celebrations in 2014

"The boats were provided to sea cadet units throughout the UK at a discounted rate and we were lucky to receive two from South Tyneside College on permanent loan.

“TS Collingwood has a particular excellence in junior and senior cadet rowing competition in local and especially our female teams at national level.

"These new boats will be very welcome as an additional training resource and will support us taking part in all regattas as well as South Shields Marine School Annual Charity Tyne Rowing Race.

"For this we provide crew training and safety cover.

“The vessels are crewed by four rowers and a cox, and the first boat will soon be ready to sit out on the water.

“The boating season will soon be upon us and we’re looking forward to getting started.”

The development of the boats has been overseen by project manager Matthew Cunningham.

Alec Renwick, chair of the North East Maritime Trust said: “We have been delighted to be involved in this important, unique boat-building project. 

“Our members really enjoy working with the Sea Cadets and are looking forward to completing the work with them.” 

John Eltringham thanked UK Docks president Harry Wilson and the company for the backing which has made the labour of love possible for both the Maritime Trust and several of the cadets.

He said: ”People often don’t realise that the Sea Cadets, as a registered charity are not fully-funded unlike the Army or Airforce Cadets, so having someone supporting us like Harry is a big part of our success.

“It’s also great to have his pride and passion in the cadets and we’ve relied on his wise counsel for many years.

• The first boat will be launched at an official blessing ceremony sometime after Easter.