UK Steel Enterprise has helped build the foundations of a new business, cementing new job opportunities in the Lanarkshire construction industry.

UKSE offered a £50,000 start-up loan to help form Phoenix Specialist Solutions following the closure of W J Harte Construction in January this year due to the downturn in the building trade.

700 jobs went with the collapse but ex-employee David Clark – who had formed the street lighting division of Harte Construction over 11 years ago – was determined to maintain some of the skills of the 40 year old company.

With the help from UKSE, he set up Phoenix Specialist Solutions in Airdrie to offer lighting, signage and road marking services, creating 27 jobs for his former colleagues.

The highly skilled staff has worked on some of the biggest road projects in the country in the past and has already hit the road running by securing a number of prestigious contracts.

Phoenix’s most recent high-profile contract involves providing all the road lighting on the Glasgow East End Regeneration Route. Connecting the new section of M74 at Polmadie Road with the M8 at Provan, this new route has been designed to facilitate visitors and athletes during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Not only has the funding from UKSE been crucial in the start up of the business, it has enabled the firm to purchase new, much-needed equipment including a cherry picker and a van-mounted crane.

The financial support has also helped the company create a number of new jobs using Routes to Work – an organisation which helps unemployed people of North Lanarkshire to access employment, training and education opportunities.

Anne Clyde, area manager of UKSE, said: “Phoenix Specialist Solutions has made remarkable progress in a short period of time and has landed work on some very lucrative contracts.

“With their new equipment and additions to the workforce I’m sure they will be able to build on this promising start.”

David Clark, managing director of Phoenix Specialist Solutions, said: “When Harte closed down, it was a really difficult time for all of the staff.

“Starting up Phoenix has helped a lot of the team remain employed in jobs they were already doing. We’re also working with clients we’ve known for years so we’ve kept those relationships going.

“The support we’ve received from UKSE has played a major role in our immediate success and now that we’ve been able to invest in new equipment is really helping us to compete with the larger players in the industry.”

UKSE offered a £50,000 start-up loan to help form Phoenix Specialist Solutions following the closure of W J Harte Construction in January this year due to the downturn in the building trade.

700 jobs went with the collapse but ex-employee David Clark – who had formed the street lighting division of Harte Construction over 11 years ago – was determined to maintain some of the skills of the 40 year old company.

With the help from UKSE, he set up Phoenix Specialist Solutions in Airdrie to offer lighting, signage and road marking services, creating 27 jobs for his former colleagues.

The highly skilled staff has worked on some of the biggest road projects in the country in the past and has already hit the road running by securing a number of prestigious contracts.

Phoenix’s most recent high-profile contract involves providing all the road lighting on the Glasgow East End Regeneration Route. Connecting the new section of M74 at Polmadie Road with the M8 at Provan, this new route has been designed to facilitate visitors and athletes during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Not only has the funding from UKSE been crucial in the start up of the business, it has enabled the firm to purchase new, much-needed equipment including a cherry picker and a van-mounted crane.

The financial support has also helped the company create a number of new jobs using Routes to Work – an organisation which helps unemployed people of North Lanarkshire to access employment, training and education opportunities.

Anne Clyde, area manager of UKSE, said: “Phoenix Specialist Solutions has made remarkable progress in a short period of time and has landed work on some very lucrative contracts.

“With their new equipment and additions to the workforce I’m sure they will be able to build on this promising start.”

David Clark, managing director of Phoenix Specialist Solutions, said: “When Harte closed down, it was a really difficult time for all of the staff.

“Starting up Phoenix has helped a lot of the team remain employed in jobs they were already doing. We’re also working with clients we’ve known for years so we’ve kept those relationships going.

“The support we’ve received from UKSE has played a major role in our immediate success and now that we’ve been able to invest in new equipment is really helping us to compete with the larger players in the industry.”