New chief executive believes the London market could help the firm return to growth

Fit-out firm Styles & Wood is targeting growth in the London market under new chief executive Tony Lenehan.

The North-west based firm suffered a 29% drop in turnover last year, but Lenehan believes the London market could help it return to growth.   

鈥淲e鈥檙e certainly looking to develop and grow our business in the capital,鈥 said Lenehan.

鈥淪tyles & Wood entered this year with little if any business interests in London. However by the end of this year 15% of our sales will have come from there.

鈥淭here鈥檚 an awful lot going on in the capital so it鈥檚 absolutely vital that we should be here.鈥

The firm has been buoyed by recent contract wins on the Olympic park and an increase in work in the retail and banking sectors.

鈥淲e picked up some contracts on the Olympic Park which has spurred on our business interests in the capital,鈥 said Lenehan.

鈥淪ince then we鈥檝e won some work through national frameworks and begun to re-engage with some old customers.鈥

The company issued a turnover warning last year following a large drop off in work. The final figure came to 拢99.1m down from 拢139.3m in 2009.