High voltage electrical commissioning specialists Northern HV wanted to mark the milestone by significantly increasing its operational footprint, boosting staffing levels and outlining a dynamic vision for the future.
Founded five years ago by directors Chris Thomas, 36, and Phil Bromby, 44, Northern HV has transformed from a home-office partnership into an international turnkey project delivery specialist.
The company operates across various sectors including renewables (wind and solar power generation), data infrastructure and transmission substations for distribution network operators.
Its rapid growth is evident in the company’s physical expansion.
Northern HV is now headquartered in a 113sq metre office at the Innovation Centre in Hartlepool. This sits alongside a growing presence at nearby Enterprise Court, where it secured a 106sq metre in 2023, followed by a 137 sq metre expansion into a further unit the following year for storage and materials.
The directors have exciting plans to transform one unit into a dedicated training academy to upskill the next generation of engineers soon.
Staffing levels have mirrored this physical growth. What began as a two-man operation – occasionally utilising four people in year one – escalated to 11 staff and 15 contractors by year three.
Now, after passing its fifth anniversary last month, Northern HV boasts a robust internal team of 13 employees and contract managers, regularly deploying between 30 and 50 specialists.
The roots of the business trace back to a friendship formed in the demanding environment of offshore work.
“We became friends offshore, and we are both car nuts,” explained Phil alongside Chris as they sat in the boardroom. “We went on a European drive together and stayed friends. We didn’t socialise together massively out of work because offshore you come home and we were on the same rota, travelled together and met up with some of the lads, but that car trip was really where Northern HV started.”
The early days required plenty of drive, leveraging contacts and a willingness to take on international work.
Chris said: “We set up as Northern HV, got some European contractual work, and started to do some SAP (Senior Authorised Person) work, commissioning and testing. Through various contacts, we got some work in Mexico on drilling shops, switchgear, and circuit break testing.
“We came back, continued to mould into SAP and test work and touched base with another company in Denmark on a windfarm project. It all escalated from there.”
Northern HV handles “anything electrical,” specialising in high voltage installation commissioning, transformer builds, fault finding and maintenance.
The company also boasts a fast-response call-out team, operating a 365-day-a-year framework with a large UK energy company and has even established a branch in Sweden.
Despite the global and domestic success, the directors remain firmly grounded in their core values to look after the team and create the right working environment.
“It is fantastic what we have set up but it wouldn’t be where it is if we didn’t have the people,” said Chris. “Sometimes we are that busy, we don’t realise how big we have become. The team works and we know we can rely on the people with us. We try to make sure we keep the business heading in the right direction.”
Northern HV shows no signs of slowing down. As they celebrate five years of excellence, the focus remains on local investment, team culture and sustainable growth.
Phil added: “We want to help create the right culture that suits us. Ultimately, everyone’s opinion counts. Our goal now is to keep building the team, growing the work, get a bigger place and consolidate the units.”
