Our Round Up Of 2023
As 2023 draws to a close, we reflect on what has been an exceptional year for Brimstone UXO. From major project milestones and industry recognition to expanding our services and growing our team, this year has been one of record-breaking achievements.
A year of growth: record-breaking success for Brimstone UXO
This year has been our busiest yet. Our engineers have collectively worked over 46,000 hours, which is the equivalent of more than 1,916 days spent in the field, supporting a diverse range of clients across the UK and internationally.
Brimstone UXO’s operations have continued to scale, with a 120% increase in order volume and 105 new clients choosing our services in 2023. Our team has worked tirelessly to provide industry-leading UXO risk mitigation, and the numbers speak for themselves:
- 25,000+ UXO items discovered – primarily as part of our clearance work at the former air weapons range, RAF Cowden.
- 500+ UXO Risk Assessments completed – helping clients understand and manage UXO risk across a variety of projects.
- 14,000+ intrusive probes conducted – ensuring thorough on-site investigations.
- 750+ hectares surveyed using UAV technology – providing cutting-edge aerial UXO detection.
Beyond our operational success, we have also continued to invest in our team, with a 9/10 employee satisfaction rating and £30,000 invested in continuous professional development (CPD) to ensure our staff remain at the forefront of UXO risk management.
Media spotlight: BBC Radio Humberside visits RAF Cowden
In March, BBC Radio Humberside visited our team at RAF Cowden to discuss the critical work we are doing to clear UXO along the East Yorkshire coast. Site Manager Paul Duckworth MBE was interviewed on the Kofi Smiles morning show, where he highlighted the dangers posed by UXO and explained why Brimstone UXO maintains a permanent presence at Mappleton Beach.
This media coverage was a valuable opportunity to raise public awareness about the risks of UXO and to reinforce the importance of expert-led clearance operations.
Expanding the Brimstone team
To meet growing demand, we’ve expanded several departments this year. We welcomed a new Operations Manager, strengthened our Research and Technical teams, and invested in our Marketing function to enhance client engagement. Our team’s dedication and expertise have been integral to our success, and we look forward to further growth in 2024.
A major UXO Survey in Lithuania
One of the biggest milestones of 2023 was securing and launching a 1,300-hectare UXO survey in Vilnius, Lithuania. This highly competitive tender win reinforced Brimstone UXO’s global reputation as a leading UXO risk management provider.
So far, we have surveyed over 400 hectares using our advanced UAV technology. Our team will return to Lithuania in 2024 to continue this critical work.
Bringing new services to market
In our continuous pursuit of serving our clients better, we introduced new services in 2023. We expanded our training capabilities to include IMAS level 1 and 2 training courses. This exciting development followed the UK governmental assurance we received in 2021 for our service delivery and built on our vision for a world safe from the risks of unexploded ordnance contamination. Our first courses are set to commence next year, so watch this space.
Our Expedited Detailed Risk Assessment (EDRA) service launched in July, providing clients with a quicker, easier way to understand the UXO risks on their site. The EDRA is an alternative to our Detailed Risk Assessments. It is still considered a stage 2 UXO risk assessment, but it has a faster turnaround time and contains more concise information which makes it easier and quicker to understand. Since its inception, numerous clients have already benefited from this streamlined service.
Demonstrating our drone surveying capabilities in Ukraine
In June, our team had the privilege of visiting Ukraine at the invitation of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to demonstrate our drone surveying capabilities.
Ukraine has been affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war for decades. This issue has been severely exacerbated due to the ongoing war, posing a serious risk to the safety and livelihoods of the population, especially in rural areas. A quick and effective solution is needed, which is why companies like Brimstone were asked to demonstrate systems for improved land release efficiency. We were incredibly proud to be involved in this work, and to be able to showcase our UAV to the UNDP.
Supporting our local community and charities close to our heart
Each year we ensure we are doing our part to support our local area and charities close to our heart, and 2023 was no exception. We continued our support for Sapper Rugby as their primary sponsor, proudly sponsored the Watlington U14 girls’ football team, and made donations to the Felix Fund. Our dedication to improving our local environment for generations to come drives us to explore new ways to make a difference.
Celebrating business achievements
This year Brimstone was delighted to win two prestigious business awards!
On 17th November, we were awarded ‘SME of the Year’ at the Medway Business Awards. Less than a week later we attended the Kent Invicta Chamber Business Awards, where we walked away as ‘Business of the Year’!
These awards celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of individuals and businesses in our local community, and it has been an honour to be recognised alongside other exceptional businesses. Winning both awards is a real testament to the hard work, dedication, and innovation of our amazing team, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of our clients, partners, and local community.
Networking, networking, and more networking!
Throughout 2023, the Brimstone team actively participated in a wide array of events, from exhibiting at the AGS Conference and Kent Construction Expo to attending the Army EOD and Search Association Annual Reception on HMS Belfast and DSEI in London. These events provided invaluable opportunities to connect with clients, suppliers, stakeholders, competitors, and friends.
Supporting international campaigns
Our team have supported a wide range of national and international campaigns this year that are important to our work. These included International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), Armed Forces Day, National Engineering Day, Mental Health Week Awareness Week, International Mine Awareness Day and British Science Week.
These causes resonate deeply with our mission and remain close to our hearts, ensuring our enduring support year after year.
2023: A year to remember
2023 has been a busy, exciting and record-breaking year for Brimstone UXO, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Our teams will shortly be having a well-earned break, with our offices closing for the holidays from 17:00 on Friday 22nd December 2023, reopening on Tuesday 2nd January 2024. In case of emergencies during this time, please call 020 7117 2492 and select option 2 for Head Office.
If you require UXO support for your projects in the new year, don’t wait until the last minute to get booked in. Brimstone UXO has great availability in January, so get it buttoned off before you sign off for Christmas. Get in touch with our commercial team today to get booked in.
As always, you can keep up to date with Brimstone by following us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), LinkedIn and YouTube.
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