A North East-based construction company has called in a neighbouring manufacturing and business consultant to help it achieve one of the highest quality marques in its industry.

Birtley-based Meldrum Construction has employed Smartspeed Consulting from Newcastle to help the company and its staff achieve the ISO 9001 standard mark. It's hoped the special qualification will cement Meldrum's increased professional approach, which includes new operational systems for staff that ensure site issues are eradicated at root.

Managing director of Meldrum Construction, David Meldrum, explained: "We are enjoying strong and steady growth as a company and with that comes new responsibilities in terms of how we perform and behave as individuals and as a collective business.

"Achieving ISO 9001 status has been a long term goal for the company and I'm thrilled to have found someone like Smartspeed to help guide us through the process."

He added: "Over the last few months Smartspeed has proved to be absolutely priceless in terms of introducing us to a new way of thinking. This has not only helped with our application for ISO 9001 status, but has assisted in focusing us as an organisation on what we really want to achieve in the short and long term."

Giles Johnston, managing director of Smartspeed Consulting, has been with Meldrum Construction for the last six months, spending up to two days a week as part of the organisation which has included training Meldrum's site managers in preparation for ISO 9001 status.

Giles commented: "Having analysed the Meldrum business model, it was clear that a 'roots upwards' approach would be the best way of focusing all staff on achieving even better productivity.

"It's been a pleasure to work with David and all his team and we're on track to help them achieve their goals very soon in gaining ISO 9001 status. David has identified this as the key way to help them with their growth plans and I'm glad we look set to achieve that in short and long term."

Johnston himself is a fully qualified engineer who has helped a range of companies across the North East increase productivity and profitability, including Phoenix Beattie Ltd, Lamplas Polymer Engineering and NCJ Media, owners of the Evening Chronicle and Journal in Newcastle.