CONSTRUCTION business Deans Civil Engineering has described financial support provided via UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE) as a powerful "springboard" for its growth, helping it win new business and buy its own purpose-build headquarters.
The firm started out in May, 2010, during what managing director Steven Deans acknowledged was a troubled period for its sector.
It works for clients in sectors including social housing, healthcare, education, and commercial and private developments, covering all aspects of civil engineering and groundworks.
The company became aware of support available from UKSE, the Tata Steel subsidiary set up to help growing companies operating in former steel-producing areas realise their full potential, which helped provide access to the loan.
Mr Deans addressed the six-figure funding package's impact, explaining that it gave business a "solid foundation," supporting continued market growth and providing it with more readily available capital.
This helped secure new contracts, and the company has now achieved a "marked" growth in turnover, beyond its expectations, he said.
Starting out with an order book of £1 million in its first year, this is set to reach between £8m and £9m this year and is projected to grow to £10m next year, Mr Deans noted. "We've come an awful long way in a short space of time," he said.
The funding also enabled the company to move from rented offices to purchasing its own headquarters, a disused bakery in Cambuslang.
The building was renovated to the engineering business' own specifications, turning from an "empty shell" into an open plan space with yards and stores.
Mr Deans said benefits of the new premises include its suitability for client meetings, as well as being beneficial for employees, providing a staff training base.
"Investing in people is an important focus for Deans Civil Engineering," he said.
The company has added 15 staff to its ranks with the help of the investment, hiring a full-time apprentice civil engineer, and securing two further contracts is allowing for more recruiting.
This ties in with UKSE's aims of boosting the local economy and creating jobs, and Scott Webb, regional executive for UKSE, praised the engineering business for being a "well-run business, which has demonstrated continued growth over the past few years".
Looking at the company's staff, he said: "It's wonderful to see them getting settled in to the new office, which will set the scene for future project wins across new markets and sectors as well as the creation of local jobs for the people of Lanarkshire."
Since UKSE's investment, Deans Civil Engineering has become more active in facilities management, introducing it to major clients and UK-wide contracts.
It also took part in preparations for the Commonwealth Games, constructing temporary car parks and walkways for the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city and wider area.
Staff really enjoyed working on such a high profile, positive event, Mr Deans said. Looking at the overall benefit of UKSE's support, Mr Deans said it has been "tremendous," guiding the company to "an even stronger position," and he said his firm will work with the enterprise organisation again in the event of a specific, suitable opportunity.
"The loan we have received has been invaluable," he added. "The additional working capital has meant we are able to take advantage of market growth."
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