A FAMILY business with its heart in the local community has been unveiled as the new sponsor of a unique series of races at Redcar.
Marske Fabrication and Engineering Limited will sponsor the 2025 Straight Mile Series at the friendly seaside track – covering seven qualifiers and the final.
The company is known for providing a wide range of clients with bespoke products, including structural steelwork, roller shutters, powder coating and galvanisation, architectural steel, staircases, fencing, and railings.
The business was founded in 1992 by Andrew Jackson, with childhood friend Dennis Gargett joining as Operations Director in 2018. The pair met as pupils at Bydales School, in Markse, and played in football teams together from juniors to over-40s.
Andrew said: “Dennis and I are proud of our local roots, and we are delighted to be supporting our local racecourse, which plays such an important part in the town and the wider Teesside area.”
The company, based on Longbeck Industrial Estate, has a long-established relationship with Redcar Racecourse, having been involved in various projects at the track, including the installation of the course railings.
Redcar’s general manager, Amy Fair, said: “Marske Fabrication and Engineering has been a trusted partner for a long time and is a company we love working with, so we are thrilled to have them on board as a sponsor.
“We are very proud of the Straight Mile Series, which is always a popular and competitive part of our racing calendar, and it’s great to have such a well-respected local company supporting it this year.”
The Straight Mile Series – the only one of its kind in the country – starts on Easter Monday (April 21st) with further qualifiers taking place on May 19, June 20, July 30, August 9, August 23, and September 16.
The final will be run on Saturday, October 4, as part of Redcar’s richest day’s racing of the year.
Marske Fabrication and Engineering, which has 14 employees, prides itself on traditional family values, with a passion for personal customer service and coming up with bespoke solutions.
It’s a philosophy that’s clearly paying dividends, with the company growing turnover and profits over the past five years despite the challenging economic landscape facing the country.
“We do well because of Andy’s standing in the local community,” added Dennis (pictured below). “He’s so well connected in the area, very well liked, and trusted for making sure we deliver high standards.
“He deserves huge credit for guiding the company through two recessions plus the closure of British Steel’s Redcar plant, and the fact that we are still thriving despite all of that speaks volumes.”
Last year, the company won an important contract to work on SeAH Wind’s flagship facility at Teesworks.
As well as the sponsorship at Redcar Racecourse, the business also gets behind local football clubs, with Dennis serving as Vice Chair of Redcar Football Club.
“We want to be embedded in the local community and this sponsorship at Redcar Racecourse is another example of that commitment,” he said.
- Main picture: Andrew Jackson, left, and Dennis Gargett, of Marske Fabrication and Engineering Limited