MPI Offshore has always had a presence on the River Tees and drawn on the local resources and people of Middlesbrough to support its ambitions and projects in the offshore wind installation operations and activities industry. Whilst MPI Offshore’s main office is located in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, they are part of the Vroon Group, a worldwide shipping organisation that are headquartered in Breskens, The Netherlands. The breadth and diversified fleet of the Vroon Group dwarfs the sizeable fleet of MPI Offshore – 4 Wind Turbine Installation Vessels and 14 Crew Transfer Vessels – with over 170 varied deep sea and North Sea supply/support type vessels. These include livestock carriers, car carriers, container ships, tankers and dry cargo vessels operating on a global basis.

On our doorstep, or coastline, the nearest project of the Teesside Wind Farm was installed by MPI Adventure in 2014, and whilst impressive on the headland, these 2.3MW turbines are very much the fledging size for the industry, currently installing up to 8MW turbines each larger than the London Eye. This type of installation and offshore construction have been MPI Offshore’s prime business for the last 15 years. To broaden the business base, the company and fleet are “connecting markets” with other Vroon Group vessels to provide North Sea support and decommissioning services to the oil and gas market.

MPI have pledged their time to the High Tide Foundation, championing our work within the business community and providing support through industry-led placements in the future through our many programmes. Helping us to both empower and inspire young people on Teesside through unique experiences, showcasing the types of job prospects that are available in the region, as well as within their sector; we will continue to push boundaries in preparing youngsters with the skills they need for their futures.

Mark Easby, Managing Director of Middlesbrough based marketing and branding agency and Trustee of the High Tide Foundation, visited MPI Offshore to meet with the team and to present their membership certificate. This marks the beginning of a very exciting partnership and one that will be mutually beneficial to us both. Looking ahead to the future of the Foundation and the work that we do, having a company like MPI Offshore on board, will add a huge amount of value to our current offering.

Are you a business on Teesside looking to give back to the community by offering a work experience placement or apprenticeship? Do you think you could help us provide knowledge of your industry by offering your assistance through our many programmes? If you are interested in becoming a member of the High Tide Foundation, then please do get in touch.

Contact our Membership Coordinator, Kim Upex on 07710713314 or email k.upex@hightidefoundation.co.uk.