UK Docks’ founder Harry receives national Supreme Champion 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award

UK Docks founder and executive chairman, Harry Wilson MBE, who launched a national company operating globally from a single slipway in South Shields, has been honoured with a national Lifetime Achievement award.

Harry was presented with the award at a gala dinner in London hosted by Family Business United in recognition of a huge contribution to the country’s marine services industry.

UK Docks’ founder Harry Wilson, presented with his Lifetime Achievement award by Ben Fowler, MD of Western Pension Solutions (left) and Paul Andrews, CEO of Family Business United

On the evening, 11 business leaders received recognition for lifetime contributions to their sectors, but Harry took away the Supreme Champion 2025 award as his unique efforts were fully recognised.

Paul Andrews, CEO of Family Business United, noted, "Harry’s legacy is one of enduring impact, from bringing his three sons into the business to fostering a multigenerational family-led enterprise."

"He is a man who never set out to seek recognition but earned it through decades of meaningful contribution, leadership by example and unwavering service.  

“He truly epitomises what family business is all about.  

“A legend. A giant. A fantastic pioneer for the marine sector and truly deserving of a Family Business Lifetime Achievement Award."

Harry’s sons, UK Docks directors Chris, Gary and Jonathon, were among the guests cheering him on as he went up to accept the award.

“I was a bit overwhelmed, to be honest, but I was delighted,” said Harry. 

"To be recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award is deeply humbling.  I've always believed in the potential of the British marine industry and the people who work in it, and this honour is a tribute to every shipbuilder, engineer and apprentice who keeps our country afloat, and to the family and colleagues who have helped shape UK Docks into what it is today."

Harry had been just as delighted to see the company win the Family Business of the Year Award for the North of England and Northern Ireland earlier in the year, and also the national Community Support and Involvement Family Award, while coming runners-up to the overall national winner.

Family is important to Harry, who later this year will celebrate 60 years of marriage to Audrey, and is proud to see the company now passing down through the generations.

The 83-year-old’s three sons are all heavily involved in the development of the company, while in the next generation, Harry’s grandsons Ewan and Lewis are in the early stages of their engineering careers with the company.

“It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work alongside my three sons for the past 30 years, building up UK Docks, and it couldn’t be in safer hands right now,” he said.

“The three of them have got a collective experience, wisdom and togetherness which is probably unparalleled in the marine industry.

Harry began his career as an apprentice marine engineer in shipyards across the North East, learning the fundamentals of marine engineering on the Tyne before embarking on a career at sea.  He then returned to the shipyards where he led major shipbuilding and repair projects, including the post-Falklands War rebuild of the RFA Sir Tristan.

His career flourished with senior leadership and management roles where he shaped strategic decisions across multiple UK ship repair yards, and in 1992, his entrepreneurial vision, combined with a rare breadth of experience and passion, and a desire to give something back to the North East and the marine community, led to the founding of UK Docks Marine Services.

What started from a single slipway on the Tyne has grown into a nationally and internationally recognised ship repair and marine services business dealing with major commercial and defence contracts.

Paul Andrews of Family Business United added: “UK Docks flourished under his leadership, rooted in practical experience, deep-seated regional loyalty and strategic acumen, and with his ethics and principles, sense of right and wrong underpinning the firm’s reputation for technical excellence, social purpose and sustained growth.

“He has overseen growth to include dry docks and shipyards in Teesside, Cremyll, Gosport, creating more than 250 jobs, revitalising disused industrial sites and supporting the defence of the UK through the servicing of Royal Navy vessels.

“He is an inspiration to many, and his vision and legacy are incredible, as is his mission to breathe fresh life into the British marine industry.  Congratulations, Harry.”

UK Docks' voluntary work with Arbeia Roman Fort flourishes as season comes to an end

WORKERS from UK Docks headquarters in South Shields have continued their voluntary work at the town’s Arbeia Roman Fort with a last visit of 2025 to the iconic site.

The company’s ongoing support, co-ordinated by office manager Emma Bryson, have earned UK Docks warm praise from North East Museums, (formerly Tyne and Wear Archives & Museums). which operates the historic site.

And UK Docks plans to maintain its links with the Fort into 2026 as part of its ongoing commitments to the local community.

Arbeia Roman Fort getting a final spruce up of 2025 - left to right, UK Docks’ Rachel Barrett and Emma Bryson with Louisa Gidney.and Frances the mule.

Operations Director, Stephen Lee, said: “UK Docks is proud to be based in South Shields and it is important to us to give back to the communities that sustain our growth and progress both in South Tyneside and around the country with our workers and supply chains. “

In recent years, the company which has always supported local charities, and has had a strong link with South Shields Cadets, T.S. Collingwood for many years, has looked to do even more.

A beach clean at Littlehaven Beach marked the start of more involvement but it has been work carried out at the tourist attraction of Arbeia’s Roman Fort which has become an enduring contribution.

Office manager Emma, said: “We were initially thinking of our visit to the Fort as a one-off - we’d go and help carry out a spring clean of the site - but it has become more than that and we have started to visit regularly.

UK Docks’ clean-up team, hard at work at South Shields’ Arbeia Roman Fort.

“It’s such a historic part of the town - an outpost from the Roman Empire from 2,000 years ago - and we wanted to do our part in supporting it."

“The work we do involves keeping the site cleaned and tidy, preventing it from becoming overgrown and contributing to as many small tasks as we can on the day.

On their last visit of 2025, Emma was joined by colleagues Richie Cheel, Rachel Barrett, Ross Turnbull and Stephen Boggon and this time they worked behind the scenes on the site’s compound and yard.

Alexandra Croom, Keeper of Archaeology at North East Museums, who is based on the site, has been delighted with the support offered by UK Docks’ workforce.

She said: “As we have come to expect from the team, they did sterling work on the site, and got a huge amount done in a single day.

“A large buddleia had grown in the yard near our offices and had rather taken over the compound and blocked out light from windows on all three sides.

“They cut this right back and let light back in, as well as removed saplings and tidied the yard to make the compound usable space once again.

“After that, they weeded the central courtyard of our reconstructed Roman courtyard house, improving the view for our visitors immeasurably, which we’re very grateful for.

“It is always a pleasure to have the UK Docks team at the Fort and we thank them so much for keeping on coming back!

“They always get a lot done and it has made a big difference to the site, so we look forward to seeing them again next year.”

UK Docks helps deliver new helicopter capability to HMS Trent in successful collaboration

UK Docks is celebrating the successful delivery of a new helicopter Visual Landing Aid System (HVLAS) to HMS Trent on schedule and within budget.

HMS Trent successfully testing its improved night-time operating system

The HVLAS, along with modifications and upgrades to the navigational aids to support Night Vision Devices (NVDs), was a task which involved multiple agencies.

It allowed UK Docks to confidently demonstrate its capacity and capabilities and that of their supply chain and partners, who were all major contributors to the success of the project.

The new capabilities on HMS Trent were the result of excellent collaboration between partners including UK Docks.

UK Docks’ Operations Director, Stephen Lee, said: “We’re delighted with the outcome, both for DE&S, Royal Navy and our commercial partners and collaborators.

“It is absolutely essential that projects such as these are delivered to the highest standards possible and that value for money considerations are always taken into account.

“This was an important project for UK Docks in demonstrating that we could operate at reach - much of the work was done in Malta before trials in Plymouth and Portsmouth - and in accordance with our brief from the Ministry of Defence’s Defence, Equipment and Support (DE&S) Hydrographic and Patrol Naval Ships Support team (NSS).

“DE&S, NSS approval to a live system being switched on and tested with an aircraft, took just eight months, which is a much faster timeframe than might have been expected.”

Helicopter capabilities are an important part of HMS Trent’s offering to the service.

This timeline included all project mandates, execution, delivery, close-out activities, finance, procurement, design (MoD and NATO STANAG), and Lloyd’s Register Naval Classification Society approvals.

The reinstatement, modification, and upgrade of HMS Trent’s helicopter capabilities will restore and enhance the vessel's operational capabilities.

Delivery of this work package was a late introduction during the vessel’s five Annual recertification period. 

However, UK Docks, in collaboration with our service partners, demonstrated the flexibility and agility of a commercially centred ship management organisation, enabling all work to be conducted while HMS Trent remained forward-deployed, rather than being taken out of active service.

Improvements to HMS Trent’s helicopter capabilities were tested and passed with flying colours.

UK Docks worked in collaboration with Du Pré Marine, Palumbo Shipyard Malta, Glamox, and DE&S Naval Supported Ships, responding with precision, technical depth, and a shared commitment to operational readiness. 

The successful completion of this challenging project to the satisfaction of all is a testament to the value of close industry–Defence collaboration. 

The joint team executed a complex package of engineering works that modernised and reinstated legacy systems with fully supportable, 30-year design-life solutions—enhancing platform performance, resilience, and operational flexibility. 

All systems were installed, Set-To-Work (STW), and commissioned on-site, meeting the demanding timelines of military stakeholders and entering service immediately in full compliance with DE&S and Royal Navy requirements.

So successful was the work on HMS Trent’s helicopter capabilities, it may now be unrolled across other Batch 2 vessels

At the core of the upgrade was the integration of a Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) system.

It transformed platform operation through improved usability, an intuitive interface, and enhanced interoperability for multinational operations, including embarked aircraft from the B2 River-Class OPV flight deck. 

The completed work enables ship’s staff to operate with greater flexibility, control, and mission agility.

Supporting enhancements included:

• Navigation system upgrade to LED lighting, meeting full Royal Navy navigation light survey standards and ensuring COLREGs compliance.

• Night Vision Device (NVD)-compliant lighting modifications, enabling safe operations during night flying and multinational exercises.

• Electrical system segregation to increase redundancy, power distribution, and platform survivability.

Due to the success of this project, work is now being considered for rollout across the wider B2 River-Class OPV fleet, extending the benefits to other globally deployed Royal Navy assets.

As part of the extended maintenance period in Malta, at the client's request, UK Docks also delivered additional capability enhancements to the platform, working alongside trusted partners and collaborators. 

This achievement reinforces UK Docks’ proven ability, together with its partners, to deliver technically compliant, operationally ready solutions at pace and reach, supporting the Royal Navy’s global mission.

How to go for Gold with the Armed Forces' Employer Recognition Scheme

EARLIER this month, UK Docks received a Gold Award from the Armed Forces’ Employer Recognition Scheme.

It was a proud moment for the company, one of the most important accolades UK Docks has earned since its formation in 1992 and a serious commitment to the many ex-services personnel UK Docks employs.

It marked the end of a seven-year quest for the company since signing the Armed Forces Covenant in 2018 and earning a bronze award (2022) and then a silver award (2024).

But what does it take to become a Gold Award holder and what actions do companies and organisations have to do to earn one?

The Gold Award banner that UK companies are allowed to display after successfully achieving recognition.

For those considering following us on the journey, here’s what Gold Award holders have to roll out in order to receive this prestigious recognition:

Gold award holders:

• must have signed the Armed Forces Covenant

• employers must have an existing relationship with their National Account Manager/Regional Employer Engagement Director/appropriate defence representative

• the employer must already be accredited as a holder of ERS Silver Award and held it with sufficient time to develop suitable plans and policies and evidence to support the ERS Gold application

• the employer must proactively demonstrate their forces-friendly credentials as part of their recruiting and selection processes. Where possible, they should be engaged with Career Transition Partnership (CTP) in the recruitment of service leavers and have registered for the Forces Families Jobs (FFJ) portal

• the employer must actively ensure that their workforce is aware of their positive policies towards defence people issues. For example, an employer nominated for support to the Reserves must have an internally publicised and positive HR policy on Reserves

• the employer must be an exemplar within their market sector, advocating support to defence people issues to partner organisations, suppliers and customers with tangible positive results

• within the context of Reserves the employer must have demonstrated support to mobilisations or have a framework in place. They must provide at least 10 days’ additional leave for training, fully paid, to the Reservist employee

• the employer must actively encourage a positive environment for Reservists by ensuring that positive policies in support of Reservists within the workforce are communicated to line managers

• the employer must not have been the subject of any negative public relations or media activity

• the employer should be an exemplar in demonstrating support to the Cadet movement. This could, for example, be through mentoring cadets in key employment skills, by providing guaranteed interviews for cadets.

For more information on the Bronze, Silver and Gold Award scheme, go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-employer-recognition-scheme

GOLD! UK Docks Awarded Prestigious Gold Employer Recognition Award from Armed Forces

UK Docks has been given a prestigious Gold Employer Recognition Award from the Armed Foces for demonstrating an ongoing commitment to the Armed Forces of the highest level.

The company is honoured to have attained the Gold Award from the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), marking a major milestone in the UK’s ongoing dedication to supporting the UK’s Armed Forces community.

The top-tier accolade marks the highest recognition possible for employers who demonstrate outstanding support to the Armed Forces, including veterans, reservists, and their families. For UK Docks, this achievement represents not just a badge of honour, but a profound acknowledgement of its core values and enduring commitment to those who serve or have served our nation.

The banner UK Docks will now be able to display, recognising its Gold Award status

Stephen Lee, Operations Director at UK Docks, expressed the team's pride.

He said: “The staff and management are absolutely thrilled to have achieved the Gold Award. 

“It has been a long-standing goal of the company—pursued with single-minded determination—and we are delighted to have now earned this prestigious honour.”

UK Docks signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2018, pledging to uphold the principles of fair treatment and support for the Armed Forces community. 

The company achieved its Bronze award in 2022, followed by Silver in 2024. 

Achieving Gold just one year later is a testament to the company’s accelerated efforts and meaningful progress.

Long-term commitment - members of the UK Docks’ management team seen collecting the previous Silver Award.

Managing Director Jonathan Wilson highlighted the wider impact of the award: “This is a company-wide achievement,” he said.

“It reflects the dedication of our entire team in strengthening our support for the Armed Forces, particularly in welcoming and empowering former service personnel within our workforce.
“UK Docks has long-standing ties with the Armed Forces, and we deeply value the expertise, discipline, and resilience that veterans bring to our operations both across the UK and internationally.”

The company continues to proudly support the Ministry of Defence through major contracts, including the global maintenance of the Royal Navy’s Batch 2 River-class vessels—HMS Tamar, Trent, Medway, Spey, and Forth—as well as the polar icebreaker HMS Protector.

“Beyond our operational responsibilities, we are deeply committed to supporting the wider Armed Forces community,” Wilson added. “From employment to community partnerships, our focus remains on honouring and uplifting those who have served.”

The Gold Award is a significant moment in UK Docks’ journey—recognising not only the company’s efforts, but also reinforcing its leadership as a champion for the Armed Forces and a trusted strategic partner within the UK’s maritime and defence sector.

A spokesperson for the military’s Defence Relationship Management team, which announced the latest Gold awards, said: “Thank you for your outstanding commitment and for going above and beyond in your support of those who serve, and their families.

“202 employers have received Gold this year — the highest number yet. It’s fantastic to see so many organisations leading the way in supporting the Armed Forces community, from Reservists and veterans to Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and military families.”

• UK Docks will be formally presented with its Gold Award at a presentation due to be held in York in November.