We sat down with Technical Director and Principal Engineer of Frontline Integrity, Brian Kerrigan, to find out more about how he’s expanding his business and supporting organisations in their quest for independent pipeline integrity management.
Having recently completed the Digital Track programme – funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority and delivered by TEDCO Business Support – we also asked Brian what drew him to the fully-funded programme and how he thinks it will support his business as it evolves.
As an experienced engineer working in the oil and gas industry, Brian Kerrigan has worked on a range of integrity projects in more than 30 countries over the years. He set up Frontline Integrity to support customers to maximise safe pipeline operations, protecting people and the environment.
Brian says,
“We are primarily a consultancy business, supporting operators to transport their products safely and efficiently. We gather detailed pipeline condition information and provide the operator with an engineering assessment of the pipelines structural integrity alongside recommendations for improvement, supporting their ongoing integrity management programme.
“However, we are now moving into engineering software products. We work with operators in all corners of the globe to identify opportunities to add efficiencies to their integrity management processes through tech. Moving the business from a very standard consultancy business to a more tech-based engineering business means we’ve been able to expand our offering and also initiate some extremely exciting product development.”
Having set up Frontline Integrity at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s certainly been quite a journey with many challenges. Nevertheless, the last three years have seen Frontline go from strength to strength.
“The pandemic had just started when I launched the business, so for a while I operated from our guest bedroom. It’s funny to think of that, because now 90% of our services are exported. We have customers in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, New Zealand, India, and across Europe.”
Getting Frontline Integrity on the right Digital Track
With help from TEDCO, Brian and his team learned about the Digital Track programme, specifically the leadership modules. This course gave Brian space to reflect on leadership within the business, identifying key skills and other members of staff who could take on more leadership roles as the organisation continues to grow.
Brian says,
“Jeff [Thompson] was there from the very start, providing me with a clear path and opening doors for local opportunities and training. He got in touch to tell us about Digital Track, and we decided that the leadership side of it was something we were very interested in.
“It was a chance to reflect on the business and leadership as a whole; identifying the natural leaders in the team and picking up key skills that can be used in day-to-day operations. Taking another team member with me on the course was a chance to plan for the future, with the idea of growth in mind.”
TEDCO Business Advisor, Jeff Thompson, adds,
“Digital Track is there to help business owners like Brian increase their skills and confidence, providing access to digital tools that support businesses on their journey to long-term success. Being able to network with other entrepreneurs allows business minds like Brian to further broaden their horizons.
“Seeing how the short course has benefitted Brian and his team is great, and I’m thrilled to hear that he and his team are using what they have learned to support the growth of the business.”
The Digital Track programme is offered exclusively to businesses based in North Tyneside, Newcastle and Northumberland and is funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority. The programme offers support in a number of different areas – including marketing, growth and leadership courses – delivered through a combination of in-person and online workshops.
To find out more about Digital Track, click here. To see more from Frontline Integrity, check out their website here.