SGW completes sixth acquisition in a year
07 September 2011
A FAST-GROWING construction group in the North-East has completed its sixth acquisition in the past year.
Teesside-based SGW Construction Group has acquired specialist flooring firm CFC Contracts, based in Eston, Middlesbrough, in a deal which secures the jobs of CFC’s six staff and will see the business’s name retained.
CFC – which began life 14 years ago as K Barnes Carpet and Flooring Centre – has supplied blue-chip customers such as steel giant Corus and former regional development agency One North East.
But SGW director Chris Lakey says it was CFC’s established reputation in the social housing sector that made the acquisition attractive.
“CFC has earned a lot of goodwill through successful contracts on behalf of local authorities and housing associations. Its acquisition provides us with a tremendous opportunity to better showcase the growing portfolio of construction-related services SGW can offer in what could potentially be a very important sector to the business.”
It is the sixth business bought by SGW in the Tees Valley area since last August. SGW has also acquired Middlesbrough construction firm Crinson Liddle, CCS Waste Management and ETS (Engineering Test Services) Ltd, both based in Hartlepool, as well as a groundworks contractors and a painting and decorating business.
In that time, SGW has gone from a being a relatively small family-owned business, with a £7m turnover and 30 staff, to a group of integrated businesses employing more than 160 people and with projected turnover this year of between £30m and £40m.
CFC, which specializes in anti-slip vinyls and wetroom flooring alongside standard carpet, flooring and tiling products, was established by Kevin Barnes in Queensway Court, on East Middlesbrough Industrial Estate. It later moved to Eston High Street, where it opened a carpet and flooring retail. outlet. At its peak, CFC directly employed 11 people.
Mr Barnes said: “When I started the business, my belief was that from a tiny acorn a big tree would grow, and CFC becoming part of the SGW group effectively makes that dream a reality. Backed by SGW and its extensive portfolio of skills, products and services, we can offer customers a more rounded service and also have the knowledge that, when we need to call in other tradesmen from within the group, we will all be working to the same quality ideals.”