South Tyneside-based, Castle, has secured a record forward order book of £110 million for 2024 and 2025.
The projections for 2024, represents strategic growth in turnover over the next 12 months and coincides with the completion of a scheduled management buyout and confirmation of the firm’s board of directors.
This is comprised of co-founder, CEO, Tony Lister, managing director, Andrew Dawson, who has been with the business for 14 years and technical director, Simon Groom, with the firm 15 years. All three are existing board members and have been responsible for the strategic direction of Castle for many years.
The restructure sees the retirement of directors, Allan Carr and David Harland. Alongside Tony Lister, Allan launched the business in 2002. David, had been with the company for 15 years.
With its headquarters in Hebburn, South Tyneside and offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Teesside, Castle, which last year recorded £30 million turnover, is one of the UK’s leading providers of all disciplines of building services, offering a wide range of high-quality engineering, and contracting services covering all aspects of construction, mechanical, public health, renewable and electrical engineering.
Tony Lister, CEO, Castle, said: “The company wishes to extend its gratitude to Allan Carr and David Harland for their significant contributions over the past two decades.”
With a current headcount of 180, Castle hired 32 new staff members in 2023 to strengthen its market-leading MEP provision which, during 2023, was complemented by its rapidly emerging principal contractor role across northern England and Scotland. This twin approach is supported by internal promotions, key recruitment at management and operational levels, training and development programs for all staff and substantial investment in technology, processes, and equipment.
Andrew Dawson, managing director, said: “We’ve had a very strong year and have also put in place a clear, forward strategy, that we are very confident will deliver exceptional, sustainable, growth. We are set to increase our turnover in the next 24 months, which is additional evidence that we are delivering, in partnership with our customers and suppliers, a consistently high-quality product. Our board of directors and senior management team have been in place for many years, so ensuring stability, consistency, and certainty. Essentially, its business as usual.”
The firm’s successful transition into a principal contractor role, has accelerated rapidly with the appointment of Craig Muldoon as divisional director of Build. Craig, joined Castle in March 2023 with over 20 years of industry experience and ten years as a senior director. It is anticipated this part of the business will match the turnover of MEP within the next two to three years.
Castle has been appointed to a range of principal contractor roles, including the state-of-the-art Pragmatic Park electronics facility in Durham and the refurbishment of both St George’s House and Maingate by UK Land Estates, located on Gateshead’s Team Valley Trading Estate.
During 2023 the company secured a host of eco-friendly projects, having achieved the much sought after Passivhaus Institute certification, including tier 1 mechanical and electrical contractor roles for a growing number of schools across Scotland.
Reflecting its new, strategic direction, the board instigated a brand refresh during 2023, which saw a rename from Castle Building Services to Castle. This year also saw the company officially recognised by industry peers, with the award of SME of the Year at the Constructing Excellence North East Awards 2023.
Castle, technical director, Simon Groom, said: “The winning of the SME award was a real confidence boost for the business. It was official confirmation for Tony, Andrew and myself that the strategy we are delivering against was viewed by highly influential players and opinion formers within the industry as being well managed and sustainable. While we are always looking to be innovative and first-in-the-market, all key decisions we make for the business are subject to high levels of due diligence and stress testing, so we know we are managing positive change very effectively.”
Advice on the management buyout, was provided by accountants Debere and Mincoffs solicitors.