Growing ambition to create 500 new jobs
Jan 23 2008 by Chris Knox, The Journal
ONE of the region’s biggest construction groups is to add an extra £20m to its turnover within five years as a result of buying a maintenance service business.
Esh Group’s acquisition of Blyth-based David Wilkinson Building Contractors is part of a larger, five-year plan to grow turnover by £100m to £250m as well as add 500 jobs to its 1,100-strong workforce.
Although County Durham-based Esh has 12 businesses under its banner, it is the first time it has purchased a firm that maintains properties and services for some of the UK’s biggest blue chip clients, including Barclays Bank, Marks & Spencer and Northumbria and North Yorkshire Police Authorities. The purchase also strengthens Esh’s foothold in Yorkshire following the opening of offices by its construction and civil engineering arm Lumsden & Carroll Construction in Leeds last year.
Although Esh is retaining David Wilkinson’s offices in Ripon, it is considering the development of new offices, which could see a significant portion of the maintenance firm’s 50 staff moving out of its Blyth base.
Brian Manning, chief executive of Esh Group, said: “We were impressed by David Wilkinson and its excellent cultural fit with our existing business. There will be opportunities for multiple synergies within the group which will open up new markets for the businesses within the Esh Group and widen the services we can offer.”
As part of the deal, the Northumberland company will now be known as Wilkinson Facilities Services, with Brian Morton continuing as its managing director.
Mr Morton said: “This is a really exciting development for Wilkinson Facilities Services; being part of Esh Group will allow us to make a real step change in our operations and grow organically by increasing our capacity, widening our offering and value of work to existing clients and looking to attract new clients.
“Furthermore, our specialist skills developed through working with the retail and banking sectors will enable us to offer complementary services to Esh Group’s existing businesses. We’re looking to the future with great optimism.”
To hit its impressive sales targets, Esh is also in negotiations to acquire a number of eco-friendly construction businesses to help create a greener business model throughout the group.
Mr Manning said: “Every day we are seeing stories in the news that make us aware of how important it is to do our bit for the environment.
“Although any deals are in the early stages of discussion, this is very much the direction that I want to take the group. We have always been aware of the environment and, as construction is moving in that direction, we mustn’t be left behind.”
