About us
Hi, I'm John, founder and Managing Director of Vertical World UK Ltd.
As one of the leading specialist rope access and maintenance companies in Ireland, we specialise in working at height and confined spaces. We have worked on some of the most well-known and tallest sites in the country. In Belfast, this includes the landmark Harland and Wolff Cranes (106m & 96m), Victoria Square shopping centre (45m), The Obel Tower (85m), The Boat building (62m), Fanum House (46m), Linum Square (Invest NI HQ)(55m) & the Titanic signature building (38m). We have also worked on the Lisahally power station in Derry/Londonderry and Thompsons Mill in Belfast.
Vertical World UK began back in 1996. I had been working in the construction industry for 20 years and I have always had a passion for rock climbing and mountaineering. I found that more and more jobs were at height and that I could combine my trade and hobbies to solve them. I enjoy the challenge of solving the difficulties that come from doing what would be a relatively straightforward job, but at height. Hence, Vertical World UK was born.
From the company's humble beginnings working from the boot of my car, we now have a fleet of specialist technicians that can service anywhere in Ireland, onshore and off, from our base and in-house training facility in Saintfield. Our range of services grows year-on-year. We are fast becoming a one-stop-shop for all your working-at-height requirements. You can checkout a full list of the growing services that we provide on our main page.
I am very proud that my team can reach the parts others cannot and have done so with a 100% safety record over the past 23 years!
What are you waiting for - contact us today to have all your working-at-height requirements met!
Thank-you.
John Kelly
Managing Director
Chief Problem Solver
Rope access technicians are normally tradespeople upskilled to work at height under instruction and supervision, but that does not mean that they are comfortable with it.
It takes a certain mindset to be comfortable suspended off a rope 27 storeys up at the top of the Obel Tower in Belfast or 106m (348ft) from the top of the Samson crane at Harland & Wolff shipyard.
Some jobs are quite straightforward but for the more complex, only the most experienced staff get to participate.
The unique feature of the Vertical World UK team is that all our technicians are fully qualified and experienced climbers and mountaineers. Working with ropes is second nature to them. Some of our team are also mountaineering instructors with years' experience at the top of their field. We have some of the top climbers in Ireland on our team. Most have also been working at height for in excess of ten years as part of the Vertical World UK team.
Mistakes happen when people are nervous and not comfortable at height – that is why it is essential to have the right team. Our team of highly skilled and experienced technicians can provide you with a tailored solution for all your work-at-height requirements.
We have recently expanded our team to include a dedicated IRATA team. IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) is an internationally recognised trade organisation. Founded in the UK in the late 1980s and now represents 100's of rope access companies worldwide. They are dedicated to the development of industry-consensus standards related to rope access training, methodology and safety for work-at-height.
Our Team
Roped Access means that a building can remain both visible and in use during work and visitors often remark on the additional interest, that essential work carried out in such a way adds to a visit, plus the consideration shown by the client in choosing such a method of work. This can lead to avoidance of loss of potential income during inspection, maintenance and conservation work.
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Rapid installation and dismantling of rope access equipment and materials saves on the inconvenience and cost to the client. Often an Access team can be in and out getting the job done in a fraction of the time it takes to scaffold.
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Gain access to otherwise inaccessible locations.
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No inconveniences related to road closures or public hazards.
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Minimal disruption at ground level.
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More cost effective than other access methods – e.g. cherry pickers, cradles, and scaffolding.
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Flexibility on rescheduling due to unpredictable weather.
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Minimal impact on structure and surroundings including traffic flow and pedestrian access. Due to the lightweight nature of roped access equipment, we ensure that your building is left mark free. Atrium floor tiles often get damaged from the weight of cherry pickers / access platforms.
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Extremely safe codes of practice (best record in the field of difficult access). Rope Access is one of the safest occupations within the construction and cleaning industries. As recognised by the HSE (Health & Safety Excutive), Roped Access is quick, has far higher safety margins and uses a better-trained workforce than is standard in the Construction Industry.
Why Use Rope Access
Safety
We have a 100% safety record over 24 years and thousands of jobs successfully completed.
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We are certified and fully insured.
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We provide a full detailed risk assessment and method statement for each job.
Rope access techniques are based on caving and climbing techniques that were developed into a safe system of access for industrial purposes as far back as the 1970's, and the constant evolution of technique and equipment since then has led to the lowest incidence of accidents in the whole access sector.
