Construction specialist to create ‘hundreds of jobs’ in Birmingham expansion
A construction access specialist has earmarked Birmingham and the West Midlands as a major hub for its expansion plans, a move which it says could create hundreds of jobs.
PHD Group, which supplies scaffolding, hoists and mast climbers for major projects, said it sees the region as key in the coming years.
Having overseen schemes involving the 2012 Olympics, The Houses of Parliament, other well-known landmarks such as the Tate Modern Gallery as well as major transport infrastructure hubs such as Kings Cross and Marylebone Stations, the company said it is keen to “use its expertise to ensure a solid foothold in the West Midlands future”.
Established as a scaffolding and access firm in 1982, PHD Group offers global expertise in managing innovative access solutions in complex building environments, including in the infrastructure, pharma, R&D and data sectors.
The group now turns over £40m and employs 400 workers with projects in England and overseas. It plans to start setting up a national infrastructure across the UK in 2019 creating key hubs in certain regions.
It believes the West Midlands represents a strong opportunity due to the region’s growing profile.
Kieran Farrell, commercial director of the PHD Modular Access Services, said: “Birmingham’s strength as the second city has really come to the fore in recent years, and with HS2 and the Commonwealth Games on the table, it obviously has to be seen as a key growth area for our business.
“‘In 2019 as we look to expand our operations into key growth areas across the UK, and with the potential for long-term contracts, Birmingham is a natural fit for a new satellite centre, being so geographically well-placed and clearly an ambitious city keen to cement its standing both nationally and internationally.”
“We would envisage, if all goes to plan, we could see hundreds of new jobs for the West Midlands by early 2020.”
“We are in the process of establishing a permanent national network to service our clients and we have a number of large projects guaranteed meaning we are in the position to create stable jobs.”
PHD Group offers access solutions for large projects across the UK and abroad. It also includes a company called Project 7 which operates in stadia and venues, including London Stadium, home to Premier League football club, West Ham United, and British Athletics’ annual IAAF Diamond League. The company has also worked for The Anniversary Games events; a legacy from the London 2012 Olympic Games.
PHD Group has already set up an office in Wakefield as it looks to expand across the north of England and has also identified Cambridge as a key hub where it has been working on the new AstraZeneca biomedical campus.
Alan Brockhouse, CEO of PHD Group, said: “We already work with most of the top 20 UK Tier 1 contractors and are keen to supply them with the same level of trusted, industry leading delivery on their projects UK. We have a defined focus on Birmingham and the West Midlands.”
