TES Aviation Group’s new corporate headquarters was officially opened on 5th June, by The Right Honourable Rhodri Morgan AM, First Minister for Wales. The company moved their existing offices in Rhondda Cynon Taff and St. Athan to one larger facility in Bridgend, in order to provide a foundation for their significant growth plans over the coming four years.
Ashley Cooper, the CEO of TES, said
"We have been searching for a suitable site to combine our requirement of 30,000 square foot of corporate offices and 60,000+ square foot of warehouse and operations space. This facility provides our ideal accommodation mix to co-locate our two existing sites. We are extremely excited about our move to Bridgend and the benefits the new facility will bring."
Speaking before an assembled group of customers, suppliers and other dignitaries which included Cllr Mel Nott Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, The Rt. Hon Rhodri Morgan talked about the opening of TES' original offices in the Valley’s Innovation Centre in Abercynon in 2001.
"It has been eight years since I opened the original TES office at the Valleys Innovation Centre in Abercynon. Since then the premises have grown by some 3000% to the current 130,000 sq ft and incorporates aircraft engine dismantling, logistics and parts storage activities."
TES has grown to a staff of 100 and is now one of the world’s foremost providers of aircraft engine asset management services. As well as managing a client portfolio of aircraft engines valued in excess of $1.5Billion, TES offers an integrated management solution providing engineering services, aircraft engines for lease, as well as a broad range of aircraft engine parts .
The First Minister stated that
"It is very impressive to see a home-grown success story like TES succeeding so well in a global industry dominated by the big multi-nationals. We look forward to seeing them go forward and provide even more exciting job prospects over the next 5 years."
Mr Grabowski, Mr Skirrow and Mr Pirbhai from DVB all attended the event. Speaking at the opening Mr Grabowski, stated
"The value of an aircraft at the end of its’ economic life resides in the engines. Whoever controls and understands that value and controls the spare parts process, is effectively able to create value for their clients, and also for their shareholders in an area that is often overlooked by other aviation banks. This is the key reason that DVB invested in TES."
Mr Grabowski went on further to thank the First Minister, the Welsh Assembly Government and in particular the Knowledge Bank for Business (KB4B) for the support given to TES since its inception.
The event concluded with guided tours of the facility and a buffet served in a marquee located in the 60,000 sq ft warehouse and operations space.