£500,000 funding helps Jack Tighe to expand

The Scunthorpe-based company was launched by former Olympic cycling competitor Jack Tighe in 1954 and has grown into one of the UK’s largest industrial and decorative painting contractors.

The group, which has worked on high profile projects such as the Olympic Park’s Arcelor Mittal Orbit spiral staircase and observation tower, applies paint and coatings to structural steelwork.

It has worked on bridges, power stations and a number of Royal Navy Vessels.

The private, family-owned company said it needed substantial space to accommodate specialist machinery and equipment while also meeting rigid safety and quality standards.

After renting additional space in February 2011, the group said business had expanded to the point where further space was needed.

The company has agreed a £500,000 funding package to allow it to buy both the space it was renting and an adjacent property near to its current Scunthorpe office.

Martin Hillyard, group managing director of Jack Tighe, said: “The new funding and resulting property purchases is fundamental for our continued success.

“Off the back of increasing business orders and new business development, we’ve been growing at a steady rate recently despite the difficult economic conditions.”

With the premises secured, he said the business will be able to match increasing orders and create a number of new jobs within the company.

Rosalind McArthur, relationship director at RBS, said: “The Jack Tighe businesses are a successful, long-standing client and we are delighted to be able to help the firm meet its continuing business aspirations.

“They have continued to grow throughout these tough times thanks to a strong management team and we’re proud to support them with this deal.”

Jack Tighe has an ongoing contract with HM Naval Base, Portsmouth for BAE Systems.

The maintenance contract with BAE Systems Surface Ships Support covers the grit blasting, mechanical preparation and specialised protective coating application to surface ships of HM Royal Navy.

It has worked on HMS Ark Royal, HMS Ocean, HMS Lancaster and HMS York.