From a shaky start to fantastic 30 year milestone for Thurra

By Slingco Ltd

19 Apr 2022

thurra-30-years_300px.png

It was 14 April, thirty years ago when a new business started trading - Slingco Inspection Services. Now celebrating thirty years in business as Thurra, the business is unrecognisable from its humble beginnings in a small office in the backstreets of Rochdale.

With a year-on-year growth of over 20 per cent, the team at Thurra are incredibly proud to have earned their excellent reputation, serving the Midlands, the North of England and North Wales with engineering inspection services. 

“We pride ourselves on our outstanding service and support to our customers,” reported Nick Dykins, MD. “My father started the business thirty years ago as a response to his own dissatisfaction at the inspection services for our manufacturing company, Slingco, however the business struggled to get established in the early days.

"At one point we were losing money and even considered closing. We decided to give it our best shot and invested energy, focus, a bespoke system and some brave hires, one of whom was Tracey Dodd, now Commercial Operations Director. And we have never looked back.”

Thurra inspects all types of equipment from passenger and goods lifts to pressure systems, power presses, local exhaust ventilation and many other items that fall under LOLER,  PUWER, PSSR and COSHH regulations.

“We have an incredibly loyal base of customers, who in some cases have been with us for the duration,” commented Tracey Dodd, commercial operations director. “I will be celebrating 25 years in the business later this year and have been very pleased to be part of the evolution of Thurra to the operation it is today. Our team are committed to providing customer service we can be proud of.”

Thurra’s client base is a mix of insurance brokers and end-users. They are well respected in the regional insurance broking industry for their competitive service and highly qualified and experienced engineers. They are one of the few inspection services to be completely independent from insurance companies, plant manufacturers or service businesses.

If you wish to meet the team, they will be exhibiting at the BIBA conference in Manchester in May this year.

Latest news

1

Planning application for new industrial and logistics Frontier Park Preston Plans have been submitted for the land in Preston

Planning application for new industrial and logistics Frontier Park Preston

18 Dec 2025

2

Burnley College gets share of £88.5m funding to revolutionise engineering and computing education Burnley College interim principal Kate Wallace, curriculum manager for Engineering David Coar, head of projects and partnerships Rosie Fearne, assistant principal – BCUC Nina Parkin and director of Skills and Innovation Neil Burrows

Burnley College gets share of £88.5m funding to revolutionise engineering and computing education

18 Dec 2025

3

SpudBros link up with EG On The Move SpudBros opening in Blackburn

SpudBros link up with EG On The Move

17 Dec 2025

4

“This is Lancashire” film showcases the beauty of the county This is Lancashire video

“This is Lancashire” film showcases the beauty of the county

16 Dec 2025

5

Conlon Construction appoints new chairman as Michael Conlon announces retirement Michael Conlon with Guy Parker

Conlon Construction appoints new chairman as Michael Conlon announces retirement

16 Dec 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
January / February 2026 Magazine networking event
Porsche Preston1200x630
Networking
22 Jan 2026

January / February 2026 Magazine networking event

Porsche Preston, Preston, PR2 1QJ

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

St Catherine's Christmas Tree-Cycling
Tree Cycling.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
25 Nov 2025 - 10 Jan 2026

St Catherine's Christmas Tree-Cycling

Several locations, Preston, PR5 5XU

10:00 - 13:07

Lancashire post Budget analysis finance leaders events
MHA-BTI Logo_black (002).jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
27 Nov 2025 - 27 Dec 2025

Lancashire post Budget analysis finance leaders events

Farington Lodge Hotel, Stanifield Lane, Farington, Preston, PR25 4QR

08:00 - 10:00

Chamber Business Lunch – December
Logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Social
19 Dec 2025 - 19 Dec 2025

Chamber Business Lunch – December

Morecambe Football Blub, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

11:00 - 14:00

Chamber Breakfast Networking – January
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
08 Jan 2026 - 08 Jan 2026

Chamber Breakfast Networking – January

3-1-5 Health Club, Lancaster, LA1 3PE

08:00 - 10:00

Lancashire County Council – Meet the Buyer - January 2026 Webinar Event
LBV Hub Webinar
13 Jan 2026

Lancashire County Council – Meet the Buyer - January 2026 Webinar Event

10:00 - 12:00

Preston Tech Connection: Tech For Better Humans
PTC January 26 banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
15 Jan 2026 - 15 Jan 2026

Preston Tech Connection: Tech For Better Humans

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Lancashire County Council – Meet the Buyer Drop in Event
Meet the Buyer event new
LBV Hub Networking
20 Jan 2026

Lancashire County Council – Meet the Buyer Drop in Event

County Hall, Pitt Street, Preston , PR1 8XJ

10:00 - 15:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: January
January Freelancer Meet-Up Square .png.png
LBV Hub Networking
20 Jan 2026 - 20 Jan 2026

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: January

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 12:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin