By Kristy Dorsey

Edwin James, the engineering and technical services group with a strong presence in Scotland, has reported an increase in turnover and earnings as it continued on the acquisition trail.

The company, a “buy and build” enterprise backed by Aliter Capital, saw turnover rise by 15 per cent to £153 million, with earnings before interest, tax depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) 28% higher at £9.6m. After including exceptional items, pre-tax profits came in at £2.1m.

Chief executive Derek Smith, who joined in 2017 from oil and gas company Ramco, said the group experienced organic growth across all operations. Activities span from facilities management on behalf of local authorities to the building and maintenance of utility networks.

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The company was further boosted by the June 2019 acquisition of Jex Process Services – which is headquartered in England and has operations in Uddingston – followed by Peak Technology Solutions in July. Based in Glasgow, Peak specialises in automation technologies.

“We are harnessing the expertise of our people and the benefits of our technology solutions to provide our customers with unparalleled service to help them manage assets through the full life cycle,” Mr Smith said. “It’s an approach that is driving revenue growth across the business.

“We continue to be open to acquisitions that can add value to our customer offering by enhancing our capabilities in key sectors. This year’s results are a robust platform for continued growth.”

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With head offices in Glasgow and Burton-on-Trent, Edwin James employs 1,100 people across the UK. Set up in 2015, Edwin James was Aliter’s first investment in 2017 in a deal that brought Ingen Technical Services and Korrie, both based in Scotland, into the fold.

Based in London and Glasgow, Aliter is focused on investments in small and mid-sized businesses in the UK’s support services sector. The investment fund is also behind the Glasgow IT group formerly known as Boston Networks, which at the end of last month consolidated its operations under the new North brand.