Claremont on track for record year
NORTH West office fit-out and design firm Claremont Group Interiors today defied the gloom and said it was on track for a record year.
The Warrington-based group, owned by former Manchester accountant Mike Gardner, said it is on track for record turnover of £28m, having notched up orders of more than £17m in the first half of its current financial year.
The company has increased its workforce from 80 to 90 as a result of its strong position.
Claremont achieved turnover of £21m in its previous full financial year and aims to increase that by 33% to £28m at the end of the current financial year.
The firm’s key projects this year were across a variety of industry sectors – with fit-out projects for lawyers Weightmans’ new office in Manchester at 3 Piccadilly Place and for Vindon Scientific at Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale.
Claremont delivered several major projects in Liverpool, including an ongoing refurbishment of the Royal Liver Building and the fit-out at the Port of Liverpool building for shipping giant Hapag Lloyd.
Managing director Mr Gardner said: “Undoubtedly, we have seen some reduction in the number of opportunities as some businesses either delay or defer their office moves.
“In a recession, business doesn’t stop, it actually becomes more competitive, and invariably there are some winners and some losers. The vast majority of our clients are taking the long-term view, and whilst the overall budget may be under some pressure, they still see the need to continue with the investment plans that they had embarked upon.”
He said the giant Spinningfields office scheme in Manchester had been key to its success.
Further afield it has just begun a major project for law firm Halliwells in London, has been appointed for a multi-million pound refurbishment project for a plc in the South West and completed a project for Cable & Wireless in Bracknell worth around £3m.
In addition, The Breeze, Claremont’s 4,500 sq ft of high quality serviced office space within its headquarters building, is now fully let.
Mr Gardner added: “There is no doubt that we will have to be extremely careful over the coming months, given the continuing stream of bad news that is being reported. But our strong order book and our excellent quality of staff and reputation will mean that not only are we considered for projects, but we win a significantly high proportion of them.
“While next year will be really testing everyone’s powers of fortune telling, we have already been appointed on a number of projects where occupation is planned for mid to late 2009.”
