An engineering entrepreneur who put his retirement plans on hold to launch a new business is now helping a raft of companies to grow.
Steve Tobbell spent 30 years at Nissan’s Sunderland plant and was looking forward to quieter times when he retired in 2020, but he was soon fielding calls from engineering supply companies asking for help during the pandemic. As a result, he set up Tobbell Engineering Solutions to offer management, technical services and advice to several engineering supply companies wanting to expand their operations in the UK. He is now based in the Wear Commissioners Building in Sunderland city centre, which was transformed into new workspace with a £3m investment by owners Adavo Workspace.
Now in its third year, the company has worked with some of the biggest firms in the automotive and oil and gas sectors. Mr Tobbell said: “I was looking to retire when I left Nissan and wasn’t looking for work, but I think I lasted about three months before I was right back into it.
