A Belfast partnership built over five decades
When Ridgeway first supplied paint-spraying equipment to Harland & Wolff in the early 1980s, the Belfast family business had already been working with the shipyard for several years.
Ridgeway was founded in 1969 and employs 40 people at their Belfast location. It specialises in access safety products and paint-spraying equipment for the construction and engineering sectors and has supplied Harland & Wolff since the 1970s.
For Fleet Solid Support, Ridgeway is providing safety equipment used across the site, including work-at-height systems, walkways, handrails and security demarcation. It is also supplying paint spraying, pumping and extraction equipment, backed by servicing and maintenance support.
The work has helped Ridgeway create two jobs, sustain four existing roles and support an apprenticeship. A more consistent flow of orders has also allowed the company to hold more stock in Belfast, improving response times and making sure equipment is available when it is needed.
Ridgeway has continued to invest in the training and development of its staff. Closer working with manufacturers and suppliers is also helping the business identify new products and practical improvements that can be introduced at the yard.
For Ridgeway, Fleet Solid Support is the latest chapter in a relationship with Belfast shipbuilding that stretches back more than 50 years. It also shows what sustained activity at the yard can mean for local businesses, supporting jobs, apprenticeships and investment across the Northern Ireland supply chain.
Stephen Kane, CEO of Ridgeway, said:
“We value our 50-year relationship with Harland & Wolff and are proud to continue supporting the yard through the Fleet Solid Support programme. Local suppliers have an important role to play in supporting the future of UK shipbuilding and we are committed to matching that ambition through continued investment in our people, processes, products and facilities.”
Carlos Carregado, Harland & Wolff General Manager at Navantia UK, said:
“Ridgeway has supported shipbuilding in Belfast for decades and is a good example of the expertise within the local supply chain. Through the Fleet Solid Support programme, companies like Ridgeway are providing the equipment and services needed at the yard while supporting jobs, skills and business confidence in Northern Ireland.”
