Bbi bucks downturn with £3m contract wins

BEACONS Business Interiors (Bbi), the Yorkshire facilities support firm, is celebrating after winning £3m of new contracts in the last six weeks.

Leeds-based Bbi believes the wins could be an indicator that the economy is starting to improve.

The contracts include wins from high profile organisations including the Welsh Rugby Union, Lloyds Banking Group, Mitel, disaster recovery firm SunGard and Balfour Beatty Workplace.

Simon Oldroyd, group sales director at Bbi, said: “There is no doubt that trading has been tough in the last year. However, we’ve been working harder than ever to drive forward new business, and now that hard work has paid off.

“To get £3m of contracts in a little over six weeks is outstanding for us, but it’s also a sign that the economy may be starting to turn.

“These contracts indicate that significant capital investments from companies across several sectors and of all sizes are starting to come through.”

Bbi has plans for expansion.

Mr Oldroyd said: “Unfortunately a lot of businesses in our industry, especially the smaller ones, have not survived the last 12 months.

“We have seen a number of businesses go under or be acquired by big multi-national firms. We have remained independent and well-financed and I think our commitment to exemplary service for our clients is what has seen us through.”

One of the main contract wins was with the WRU on a project to design new offices in Cardiff.  The design of the offices will have a Welsh rugby theme, bringing it in-line with its other premises designed by Bbi.

Work for Lloyds Banking Group includes refurbishment projects across the country and the Mitel project involves the design and build of a new data centre.

Mr Oldroyd added: “Talk of green shoots is still premature but these new contracts are a sign that we are well placed to emerge stronger than ever as the economy starts to recover.”