The judges hailed the 鈥榞reat recovery story鈥� of a West Midlands firm that fought its way through the recession by transforming itself into a main contractor - and hasn鈥檛 looked back
O鈥橞rien Contractors
Back in 2009 O鈥橞rien was close to going under. The family firm, based near Leamington Spa in Warwickshire, was established back in 1958 but, after more than 50 years trading as a specialist contractor providing drainage and groundworks, it was in real trouble. Turnover had fallen, contracts were drying up and those it did secure were on ever reducing margins. As the firm itself says 鈥渟omething drastic had to change鈥�. Bosses decided to reinvent the business, turning O鈥橞rien from a specialist to a principal contractor in order to offer everything needed for a civil engineering project. The results hugely impressed the judges, who called O鈥橞rien鈥檚 recent experience a 鈥済reat recovery story鈥�. In 2013, the firm increased its profit margins and volume of work while also improving productivity and training levels. Most importantly, its growth has allowed it to protect its entire 100 strong workforce from redundancy.
Elliot Thomas Group
Last year was one of impressive growth for Elliott Thomas Group. Its construction revenue rose 52% while construction operating profit increased by 27% and construction staff levels jumped by 73%. But there was no sign of the firm resting on its laurels. It reinforced its senior management, restructured back-of-house operations and improved commercial processes to support expansion, while also developing its marketing and business development capabilities. It also opened a new office in the London borough of Southwark and introduced eye and hand protection in line with larger companies. Elliot Thomas says it strives to be 鈥渆thical, sustainable and effective鈥�. It could add 鈥渟afe鈥� to that list too: achievements in this regard include four million man hours without incident, encouraged by the roll-out of its new SAFEstart campaign.
FM Conway
FM Conway provides construction and maintenance works for the UK鈥檚 highways, public realm and transport infrastructure. Based around London and the South-east,
the firm serves 17 of the capital鈥檚 boroughs as well as many of its parks, stadiums, venues and communities. In 2013, despite suffering a fall in profit, the firm grew its revenue against a tough economic backdrop and continued to invest, including opening a 拢10m asphalt plant and launching a health and safety programme, People First. The company also set new standards for cycle-safe vehicles and began work on Transport for London鈥檚 拢1.2bn LoHAC framework. FM Conway says its attention to detail and willingness to invest in its business have helped it to stand out in a competitive market. Judges were impressed by this approach and also by its profit margins.
Midas Group
The Midas Group is proving highly profitable despite the challenging economic climate. During the last 12 months, group operating profit rose by 117% albeit on a turnover down by 15%. During 2013, Midas says it improved the level of support it gives its staff by introducing a programme based around the company鈥檚 corporate vision. Overall, more than three-quarters of the firm鈥檚 workforce reported contentment, well above the industry average. Midas says it also scored well on customer service, with a level of 83% customer satisfaction at project completion and more than 70% of new projects coming from existing clients. In the last financial year, it also delivered a number of noteworthy projects including one of the largest commercial office developments built outside London - a 拢25m flagship John Lewis store in Exeter - and Waitrose鈥檚 鈥済reenest store to date鈥� in south Gloucestershire.
This award was sponsored by SIG
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