The Argyll and Fife-based business has acquired an Airbus H125 helicopter for its Skyhook Helicopters brand. It serves the energy and infrastructure, construction, forestry and agricultural sectors.

It is used predominantly to undertake ultra-efficient high accuracy line of sight mast construction, transport and lifting or slinging of loads, including building materials such as cement, aggregates and fencing. In addition, it transports mobile plant equipment and fuel to remote and inaccessible sites without the long-term impact and expense of ground transportation.

Skyhook Helicopters also undertakes tree, land and wildlife survey works with Forestry and Land Scotland and NatureScot, as well as on-call firefighting in the national parks and estates. The new Airbus H125 will be the third helicopter in Skyhook Helicopter’s fleet and will expand TSL Contractors’ capacity, as well as bid for new contracts, providing greater client availability and planning flexibility.

TSL Contractors Limited has been in business for over 40 years and is engaged mainly in construction and civil engineering works across Argyll, Lochaber and the islands, employing over 150 people in housing construction, civil earthworks, high-end commercial new builds and extension and alteration. It has significant experience of remote and complex projects, including numerous hydropower and renewable energy construction.

This deal has been led on behalf of Paragon’s SME Lending division by Alison Jones, head of aviation in the Specialist Lending team, headed by Matt Bass.

Andy Knight, managing director of TSL Contractors Ltd, said: “It was great to work with Alison and Paragon to secure this funding, it’s been a smooth process from start to finish, which was helped by Alison’s knowledge and experience of the aviation industry.

“This new aircraft will enable us to undertake more work across the whole of the UK, Ireland and the Islands to support local communities and infrastructure projects, in addition to some of the other important work we do with these aircraft, such as firefighting in the warmer seasons.”

Alison Jones, head of aviation at Paragon SME Lending, added: “We were pleased to be able to support Andy and TSL Contractors with a funding facility for £2 million, enabling this SME business to expand its fleet of helicopters and support the construction of important infrastructure and buildings in what are often very remote areas that can be difficult to reach.

“At Paragon, we’re passionate about supporting SMEs to grow their business and this is a great example of a business that we were able to support who can now undertake more work as a result of this new asset.”