One of the region’s leading independent mechanical and electrical design and installation contractors has reported significantly higher than anticipated first quarter trading figures as buoyancy returns to the construction industry.
Based on its first quarter trading, Hebburn-based Castle Building Services Organisation (Castle) is on target to double its turnover this financial year.
Last year, Castle turned over £20 million, which was a 25 percent increase on previous year. During 2014, as part of its detailed growth strategy, the company expanded its operation in Scotland, adding an East Kilbride office to Castle Building Services and launched Castle Green Services an award-winning green energy division.
Since last November the company increased staff numbers across all areas of the business including admin, project management and estimating, with 13 new appointments. Castle also appointed specialist BIM manager Lee Nicholls and added further strength and depth to Castle Green Services with the appointment of project manager Dave Wallman, who has considerable industry knowledge.
Castle is currently working on a diverse range of projects across the UK including a hotel development in London’s Leicester Square for M Hotels, a Hampton by Hilton Hotel in Glasgow and major education projects across the north east and Scotland, where the contractor is providing design and installation services on construction of Caol Campus in Fort William and closer to home, recently completed work on the new Bede Campus for Sunderland College.
Added to this are Castle’s most recent contract wins, valued at £16.8 million. These will see its , team of building professionals design and install a full range of mechanical and electrical services on the construction of an apartment complex in Hungate, York for Lend Lease Ltd; the new Holmeside Campus for Sunderland College with BAM Construction; a new sports sciences facility at Edinburgh’s prestigious Herriot Watt University for Bowmer and Kirkland; and a project to remodel existing production facilities for, automotive specialist, TRW with Key Property Services.
Speaking about such an impressive first quarter trading, the firm’s commercial director, Allan Carr, said:
“I am delighted to report that we continue to go from strength to strength and if the extremely busy and successful first quarter is anything to go by, I am confident that we will exceed our targeted turnover this year.
“I believe our continued success is down to a number of factors, not least the tremendous team effort we put in to each and every project that we undertake, irrespective of the size or value of the scheme. Our positive approach and high level of service is being rewarded by a significant amount of repeat business with some of the UK’s leading construction companies, factors which have recently been recognised by commendations from two key clients. Both BAM Construction and Bowmer and Kirkland saw fit to acknowledge our work on their developments at Teesside University and both the refurbishment of the Watson Building in Liverpool and the Holiday Inn Express, Middlesbrough.
“In response to our continued success we have taken on a number of staff at all levels across both offices, many of the new posts being created are in the north east.”
Mr Carr continued;
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Castle for their continued efforts and diligence in making the company the success that it is.”
Castle Green Services has also done extremely well given that the company is not yet a year old and was recently awarded the ‘Boiler and Renewable Installer of the Year Award (North East Region)’ in the annual Green Deal Eco Awards. The division will now compete in the national awards later this year.
With regard to Castle’s recently launched East Kilbride office, it too has made a significant contribution to the company’s success as it surges ahead of forecast, winning work in the education, hotel and leisure sectors as well as commercial property.