An award-winning civil engineering firm has pledged its continued support for the North Wales economy.
And Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK has cited its own contribution to increasing the skills base locally, through its well-established apprenticeship and employee continuing professional development programmes.
The company’s managing director, John Dielhof, (pictured, second right) also spoke about the importance of forthcoming landmark engineering projects in the area, in an address to the CBI North Wales annual dinner.
The Ruthin-headquartered family-owned firm was a main sponsor at the sell-out event, held at St David’s Park, Ewloe.
Delegates heard a keynote speech from parliamentary undersecretary of state for Wales, Stuart Andrew MP.
Ken Skates AM, secretary of economy and infrastructure for Wales, also addressed delegates, before comedian Rachel Parris gave an after-dinner talk.
John Dielhof told the audience: “The company has come a long way since it was founded in the 1950s.
“Today, we employ almost 400 people – 90 per cent of whom are from North Wales.
“We work all over the UK, and Jersey specialising in highways and infrastructure; energy and renewables; flood and coastal protection; and waste management facilities.
“As a family-owned firm, we’re able to take a long-term view to growing the business, building long-term, collaborative, relationships with many clients.
“Indeed, one of our longest-standing clients is our guest here tonight.
“We first worked for Stena at the Port of Holyhead in 2001 constructing the Terminal 3 redevelopment scheme, and have continued to do maintenance and capital projects there over the past 17 years.”
Recently in North Wales, Jones Bros has been carrying out preparation and enabling works at Horizon Nuclear Power’s Wylfa Newydd site. It is also currently building wind farms at Clocaenog and Brenig.
Jones Bros has also partnered with Balfour Beatty in a joint venture that is expecting to be named by the Welsh Government as the preferred contractor for the Caernarfon By-pass.
John added: “There are lots of exciting plans for development on our doorstep, and we look forward to being involved so that in turn we employ and provide new skills to more local people.”