£88m turnover construction firm plans to double Leeds workforce
LEEDS construction firm Morris & Spottiswood is launching a major recruitment drive after unveiling a £600,000 office buy-out and refurb project.
The £88m turnover firm has been operating from Nash House in Hunslet since 2012 and now looking to double its workforce in the city which includes 15 office staff and 20 trade specialists.
Morris & Spottiswood Leeds operations manager Paul Morley said four new senior appointments will be made in January. As many as 60 new recruits are expected to join the fit-out, housing and maintenance firm throughout 2017.
The news comes as Morris & Spottiswood officially unveiled a major refurbishment of its Pym Street site after buying the premises. This has opened space on a second floor of the building to accommodate extra manpower.
The opening ceremony attracted support from Leeds City Council as Lord Mayor Gerry Harper joined celebrations.
“The launch of our newly refurbished office signals our commitment to invest in both the North of England and its skilled workforce,” said Mr Morley. “The Leeds site will now become the main administrative hub and a strategic base to broaden our footprint across the North of England.
“We are looking to direct this growth with new appointments in January to our Mechanical & Electrical team including a quantity surveyor, mechanical engineer and project manager, as well as a senior contracts manager. We passionately believe in serving local markets with a local supply chain, and directly employing local people in our regional offices.”
Latest audited accounts for the nationwide firm which has additional offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Warrington revealed total turnover increasing from £74m in 2014 to £88m.
Morris & Spottiswood group managing director Jon Dunwell said the firm had recorded rapid growth specifically in Leeds.
“The Leeds site is home to our Mechanical & Electrical department which has grown from £4m to £17m in the last three years,” said Mr Dunwell. “More broadly sales for the North of England region have grown from £10m in 2012 to £44m in 2015. Our employment figures have risen sharply from 329 in 2015 to 382, including 24 apprentices.
“One of the main reasons we are witnessing such strong results is that we offer something unique to the market – a complete fit-out solution at great value. The services we offer include fit-out disciplines such as M&E and flooring to maintenance, facilities management and technical services. We can package this all together giving clients greater value for money. We can plan jobs more efficiently and we can react faster to their needs.”
“Looking ahead to 2017 a specific focus has been placed on maintenance, facilities management and technical services contracts. We also have a specialist team working on national framework agreements which we believe will create a large amount of extra work for our Leeds operation.”
