Jane Nolan MBE, Robert Nolan and the Shadow Minister for Energy, the Hon Bernard Jenkin MP, pictured at the NOF awards ceremony

August 2007

Two awards in two days for Shark Group!

First was the 2006 Northern Offshore Federation award for international achievement, which was awarded for the company’s performance on exports, and developing sales of its offshore survival products and technical clothing to 26 countries. In 2006 more than 50% of the company’s sales were exports. Jane Nolan, Chief Executive of Shark Group said “We are delighted to have won the NOF International Achievement award, which recognizes our commitment to developing exports and the significant increase in export sales which has been achieved. It is a tremendous accolade which recognizes the efforts of the whole team at Shark Group. We believe the key factors in achieving increased international sales in a competitive global marketplace, have included innovation in our products, which have become industry standards, staff training and proactive business development”. 
 
Secondly, Jane Nolan was awarded the 2006 NE Woman Rural Entrepreneur award, in recognition of her achievements at the Shark Group, a niche company which operates in a rural area but which is a global player.  “The awards recognize the strong contribution to enterprise made by women throughout the region, so it important that the awards are well supported and that women enter them to publicize their achievements. I entered because I was keen to have the recognition for my company, as at the end of the day, everything is a team effort.

I was absolutely delighted to win the award – so much effort has gone into Shark Group, keeping the company sustainable through a strong commitment to innovation and excellence in design and production, and winning this award was a recognition of that achievement, which is the result of the whole team’s efforts.”

17th November 2005 - Shark Group win two 2005 Northern Offshore Federation awards – one for Training and one for Innovation

“We are delighted to have won the NOF training award, which recognizes the achievements of the whole team at Shark Group. Our long term commitment to training and development is based on our recognition that skills are absolutely essential to success, making a real difference both for individuals and to our performance as a company. During 2005, we have further increased our skills and competences to enable us to achieve the very demanding European Aviation Safety Agency Part 21 approval.”

“Winning the NOF innovation award is a tremendous accolade and we are especially delighted to win it in the year we are celebrating 40 years in business, during which we have been consistently innovative. Innovation in our products and business processes has been one of the main reasons for our sustainability in a fast changing, highly competitive, globalized marketplace.”

Jane Nolan MBE Chief Executive Shark Group

Shark Group signs worldwide distribution agreement with RFD Beaufort on military re-breather technology

Shark Group has signed a worldwide distribution agreement with RFD Beaufort for the sales and marketing of re-breather products for military applications.

This agreement follows the close working relationship generated during the development of an integrated lifejacket/re-breather solution for the UK Marines BvS10 Viking vehicle, which included the development of the Shark Military Re-breather by Shark Group and the VCLJ Vehicle Crew Lifejacket by RFD Beaufort.

Both companies are world leaders in their fields and are working together to offer military customers commercial-off-the-shelf lifejacket/re-breather solutions for land and air transport applications worldwide.

1965-2005 40 years and still growing strong
We would like to say a resounding "Thank you" to our staff, customers and suppliers, who have been such a key part of our success and sustainability over 40 years in business. [more...]

Shark Group provides kit for the British & Irish Lions team and officials.
Shark Group is proud to have been selected by adidas (UK) Ltd to manufacture a Gore Tex® jacket and over trouser, as well as a Windproof membrane fleece jacket, on adidas’ behalf for supply to the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. [more...]

Shark swims against the tide
In a modern day equivalent Coals to Newcastle, we have recently supplied survival suits to China, where they are now in use by staff of the oil company Kerr McGee in the emergent Chinese oil and gas industry. [more...]

Shark Group supports the work of the Shark Trust
The Shark is a very strong metaphor for individuals and organizations in the 21 st century, because if a shark does not keep moving forward it will die. However, sharks tend to suffer from very bad press and Shark Group has joined the Shark Trust to help promote the wider understanding and conservation of sharks. [more...]

Shark shortlisted for North East Chamber of Commerce award
We have been shortlisted for a major award for our contribution to the community. We want to make a difference and we have shown that an involvement with the community is a real win win - corporate social responsibility isn't just for large companies. [more...]

Shark Group Export Success
At a time when many UK manufacturing companies are offshoring their production, Shark Group is swimming against the tide by exporting its products to China - the company has won a contract to provide its Civil Aviation Authority approved Nomex Gore-tex survival suits, which are used by helicopter passengers travelling to and from offshore installations in the global offshore oil and gas market. [more...]

Boot-ilicious: GunMart February 2004
As for boots, every hunter needs a pair - the High Hunting Boots from Shark might be of a specialist design but there's a lot to like here as well. Shark Group's hunting boots are a traditional style of a field boot - albeit in the very high leg design more popular in mainland Europe. But more of that later as firstly here's the lo-down of the boot specifications and manufacture... [more...]

November 2003: Shark Group wins major training award
Shark Group has won the Northern Offshore Federation (NOF) Training award for 2003. Team members received the award from the Energy Minister Stephen Timms and the Managing Director of Shell Expro Europe, Tom Botts, at the NOF Dinner on Wednesday 24th November 2003 [more...]

Investor in People
Shark Group is proud to have been recognized as an
Investor in People on 17th July 2003.

Latest Award News April 2003
Shark reached the finals of the Northern Business Awards for the Best New Product of 2002, held on 27th March 2003 – although the company did not win, it is proud to be associated with such prestigious awards and to have had the honour of being a finalist when the field of entries was extremely strong [more...]

2002 Spirit of Innovation Award Won
Shark Group won the prestigious 2002 Spirit of Innovation award for the Integrated Survival Suit development, sponsored by ConocoPhillips and BP, which resulted in a number of innovative new products such as the Shark Lifejacket Air Pocket Plus (LAP) and the Variable Insulation Garment (VIG) [more...]

Review: Country Wear
Pete Brown - Editor of Shooting Sports had this to say in the April 2001 edition.

"...These boys build some serious survival gear for the marine and aviation industries and their offering for shooters shows some excellent and practical features" [more...]

Review: Bootfoot Waders
Pete Wadeson, Pike and Predators Magazine, May 2002, Issue 54
"The Chest Waders here on review are made from 5mm-thick Neoprene and are available in a hi-tech camouflage design from America known as Advantage Wetlands. I'm no stranger to camo designs as I use a lot of other patterns for my other passion - shooting. Anyway, most anglers will probably already be familiar with this particular camo pattern, because it's now being used by certain manufacturers aimed at the carp angler. [more...]