A Heritage of Innovation
We started in 2001 in partnership with a small workshop, a limited team heading operations in the UK and a basic website. We began our journey doing boat shows across the UK and quickly realised the potential of Digital. We have maintained a focus on digital development throughout our company lifespan, continously investing and broadening our digital reach through the development of multiple websites.
This in turn has helped to grow our business and attract customers from across the globe. As our customer base increased, so did the type of enquiries we received and this led to us buying out the workshop we earlier partnered with in order to have a greater control over our manufacturing process.
Innovation has forever been at the forefront of our philosophy and we strive to develop our internal skillset, supply chain and access to technology in order to fulfil client expectations.
Company Milestones
Established
Premier Ship Models is established following our partnership with a workshop and with the goal to provide handcrafted models to the local market in the UK
The First Show
We exhibit at our first ever show (IFOS) and launch our first website. Our first corporate delivery to the USA ends in an international flight to New York followed by a train and taxi journey to the client
Yacht Shows
Following our first online sale, we exhibit at two renown Yacht Shows in the UK (Southampton and London)
Bespoke Models
Having previously only completed models of well known vessels, we build our first ever custom models for BT and the BBC. Custom Models would later go on to become our specialty
First Museum Project
We successfully deliver six museum quality models for the Hong Kong Maritime Museum and employ our first full time staff member in the UK.
International Shows
In order to develop our international reach, we agreed to exhibit at the Dubai Yacht Show and Abu Dhabi Interior Design Show
New Products
As we continue to grow and get more requests from customers, we decide to introduce a range of model kits on our website for customers to build themselves. Alongside this, we complete our second project with BBC
Greater Diversity
We continue to take on more challenging projects including our first shipyard order, an order from Taiwan Museum and our biggest model to date (3.8 metres)
Largest Ship in a Bottle
In partnership with the Mayor of London, we are appointed to build the world’s largest ship in a bottle (HMS Victory), which originally stood on the fourth plinth at Trafalgar Square and is now moored at the Greenwich Maritime Museum
International Websites
Following our success in our domestic market, we launch an international website for our US customers and later in Australia and France
Financial Investment
Following financial backing from an international investor, we open our first physical shop in London
Danish Maritime Museum
We complete one of our most interesting projects to date following the delivery of two 4-metre tankers, which were later presented to the Queen of Denmark at the launch of the museum
Bone Model
We complete the first restoration of a Bone Model, a difficult material to work with, for a museum in the UK
Introducing 3D Printing
Succesful completion of one of our most complicated projects to date after we finish a 3D Printed model of the Glen Lyon FPSO for BP’s Head Offices in London and Aberdeen
More Museum Contracts
As the business grows and our manufacturing capability increases, we secure two new contracts with museums in Estonia and Australia
New Workshop
Following a partnership of 17 years, we decide to buy out our main workshop in order to have more control of our processes and a achieve an even better quality in our models
Awards Season
We continue to grow our international presence and earn a nomination for a UK Business Award. We took on several complicated projects including a feature wall for a new cruise ship, which involved a great deal of sourcing, manufacturing and design in order to deliver
Investment in Technology
To achieve a better level of accuracy and increase our capacity, we invest in new machinery including CNC and laser technology. This new technology helps us to deliver projects for museums in Australia, Singapore, Qatar and Dubai
Concept Builds
We win our largest ever contract for a museum in Oman. We are also asked to build our first ever model of a boat that doesn’t actually exist – completing a concept build of a superyacht
Lloyds Business Award
The Queen's Award for Enterprise
After a fantastic 2021, Premier Ship Models are presented with the Queen’s Award. It is a fantastic way to celebrate the company’s success, as it truly recognises Premiership Models contribution to UK and International Enterprise.
Across the Ages Museum
2021 goes down as an incredibly productive year for Premier Ship Models. We successfully close the most impressive deal in the history of our company, a six-figure contract for the brand-new Omani museum, ‘Across the Ages,’ and it’s due to be delivered in March 2022.
Where we've delivered to
The map below is a representation of where we have currently delivered to as of mid-2022. The countries in blue are where we have delivered (85 countries total).
