Celebrating 40 years of PMP Utilities
PMP Utilities, part of M Group Services’ Water Division, celebrates its 40-year anniversary.
From the very beginning, in 1983, when PMP began cleaning culverts for Blackburn Borough council, it has steadily grown to provide specialist end-to-end engineering solutions to the UK’s water and power industries, delivering services in hazardous and difficult to access environments.
Throughout the years, PMP has developed long-term relationships with clients through multi-year framework agreements and standalone projects. The first business in the field to be awarded British Standard on Quality Systems (BS5750) in 1988, PMP has continuously worked to ensure it complies with strict production procedures.
The work undertaken sees PMP operatives work in hazardous, challenging environments. The safety, health, and wellbeing of all its people underpins everything that PMP does. Throughout the course of 40 years, PMP is proud to have adopted standards throughout the business to ensure the health and safety of its colleagues.
All PMP operatives are trained to City and Guild levels for confined space entry and rescue, with the majority having high risk confined space certifications. PMP also works to ensure rope access surveyors and engineers hold Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA) level 1, 2 and 3 qualifications, ensuring they have the capability to safely manage and work on ropes, using in house specialist equipment.
PMP has been at the forefront of innovations to ensure the health and safety of its colleagues and of those in the Water industry. In 2004, PMP developed the V33 Transition adaptor, a steel and nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) adaptor that securely and completely grips existing CIPP lined gas pipes. Developed as a result of a significant safety incident within the industry, PMP undertook the development for free, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of future operatives.
In 2015, PMP moved to bespoke office and fabrication shop in Burnley. A small outfit, with only six people in the office, the team works
hard to undertake different roles to ensure projects are delivered efficiently, effectively and with the safety of its people, along with the public, at the forefront of everything that it does.
Offering bespoke engineering solutions, PMP is committed to providing opportunities to attract, develop and retain the next generation of highly skilled, forward-thinking, and technically competent people. Its apprenticeship scheme has seen success this year, with two operatives having completed the course and accepting jobs within the business and another four currently working to complete the programme. PMP understands that for the industry to develop and evolve, its work to train the next generation of engineers is integral.
Following substantial growth opportunities in Scotland, PMP opened its regional Glasgow branch in 2022, mirroring the set up and capability of the main facility, allowing it to react quickly and effectively in the area.
Recent projects have included PMP working with its client, Rolls Royce, to provide rope rescue cover for an inspector entering boilers at two locations, over multiple visits, to undertake regulatory inspections. This year, PMP worked collaboratively with Morrison Water Services, another business under M Group Services’ Water Division, to support client, Scottish Water, to deliver specialist support on McDonald Road Sewage Pumping Station (SPS) in Edinburgh.
On 2 November, Stephen Taylor, Managing Director of PMP Utilities will also celebrate his 40-year anniversary with the business. Speaking on celebrating 40 years of PMP, Stephen, said: “I’ve seen the industry dramatically change over the 40 years, with many highs and only a few lows. I’ve worked with people I would class as friends. We’ve seen the business grow and that’s what I wanted to achieve from the offset. I look forward to offering support and advice to the next generation of colleagues as they continue to drive PMP Utilities forward.”