South Tyneside firm celebrates Queen's Award

A South Tyneside-based firm – which is run by a husband and wife team – is celebrating winning a prestigious national award.
Peter and Cherelle Lyons of NECIT ServicesPeter and Cherelle Lyons of NECIT Services
Peter and Cherelle Lyons of NECIT Services

NECIT Services – which provides bespoke inspection services for engineering industries worldwide - has been awarded a Queen’s Award for International Trade.

The South Shields-based company, run by Peter and Cherelle Lyons, carries out much of its work throughout the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

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It is among 205 organisations nationally to receive a Queen’s Award having built an extensive global network involving more than 2,000 independent inspectors and auditors in the mechanical, electrical, and protective coatings sectors.

Operating across 75 counties, it employs 17 staff directly at its headquarters in One Trinity Green, in Eldon Dtreet, Soutb Shields – and says it is aiming to become a £20m turnover business by 2025.

Managing director Cherelle said: “I think that we stood out by being a small family business that has remained true to our North East roots despite growing into a global leader in inspection, auditing and expediting services.

“The majority of our clients are based in the United States but the projects we work on are global.”

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She added: "We hope that winning a Queen’s Award will help us showcase the business and allow us to further expand.

"It’s a proud moment, not just for Peter and me, but for everyone associated with NECIT Services.”

Peter, the company’s technical and business development director and a qualified international welding engineer and senior quality inspector, launched the business in 2009 and set about building up a worldwide network of contacts in the energy sector.

The firm experienced a rapid growth in the wake of the 2015 downturn in oil and gas prices.

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He added: “While other inspection services were cutting staff, I set about recruiting consultants and specialists to fill the void – taking us from a small family business to a global player.”

Now in its 55th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise is the country’s most prestigious business awards, with winning businesses able to use the esteemed Queen’s Award emblem for the next five years.

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