Imtech further strengthens their UK position through the acquisition of the Smith Group
Imtech has announced the acquisition of Smith Group UK Limited. Through core technical competences in electrical services and mechanical services (including energy and climate technology) Smith Group UK Ltd specialises in providing multidisciplinary technical services. With over 270 permanent employees, Smith Group UK Ltd has an annual turnover of circa £63m.
Stephen Smith and Martin Brook, the joint Managing Directors of Smith Group UK Ltd: ‘We are pleased to have been acquired by one of the leading technical services providers both in the UK and Europe. We see this as providing a platform for the continued development of Smith Group UK Ltd and are eagerly looking forward to broadening our services to our clients, both as Smith Group UK Ltd and with our fellow companies of Imtech in the UK.’
Martin Brook and Stephen Smith, joint Managing Directors of Smith Group Uk Ltd
Jim Steele, General Manager, Imtech UK & Ireland: ‘The acquisition of Smith Group UK Ltd fulfils our UK strategy to provide our clients with a full technical services offer across all geographic areas of the UK. The requirement of clients and main contractors for solid, financially strong M&E contractors supported by innovative technical engineering practices is ever increasing in the competitive market we operate in. The ability of Imtech to deliver locally while bringing group innovation and learning practices to the table, whether UK or European, sets us apart from our competitors.’
Smith Group profile
Smith family started the business in 1958, and its activities have expanded considerably, particularly in recent years. The company specialises in the combination of electrical and mechanical services in the education, financial, retail, entertainment, commercial buildings, industrial and care & cure market sectors. Its head office is in Lancashire, not far from Manchester. The company also has branches in Preston and London. Around 75% of its activities consist of new build technology projects while 25% comprise technical maintenance and management (contracts for planned, proactive and reactive maintenance). The company has specific certified competences related to energy (energy efficiency, sustainable energy, and carbon footprint reduction), fire prevention, security and air conditioning.
Smith Group UK Ltd has a strong customer focus and generally operates both as a technology partner direct for customers and in a building team relationship with organisations like Willmott Dixon, Lend Lease and Carillion. These one-to-one relationships result in a strong business model with high added value. In this context, the company has its own design and engineering department. This is one of the reasons why Smith Group UK Ltd is increasingly successful in winning bigger contacts.
Examples of recent projects include: new educational buildings for The University of Lancaster, Salford University, the Bolton Sixth Form & Community College and Waingels College in Reading, an expansion for the Manchester City Council, the Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury, the multidisciplinary project Mann Island at the Liverpool Waterfront, the office building No.1 First Street in Manchester and an expansion of the Trafford shopping centre in Manchester.
Smith Group UK Ltd management will remain in place after the acquisition, thus guaranteeing continuity.
Strategically strong portfolio in the UK, focus on further growth
Since 2003, Imtech has built up strong positions in the UK as well as in Ireland in the buildings, industrial, energy and water treatment markets. After the acquisition of Smith Group UK Ltd, revenue in the UK will total over 510 million euro on annual base and the number of technical specialists will exceed 2,500 (both figures excluding Imtech’s UK marine, ICT and traffic activities). The acquisition of Smith Group UK Ltd will provide Imtech with full national coverage in the UK, giving it a strong competitive position. Imtech can also offer the complete ‘life cycle’ of technical services, from design and engineering to implementation, technical maintenance and management. For its maintenance activities, Imtech has attractive maintenance concepts. Within Imtech in the UK, innovations - amongst others in the field of energy - can be optimally used for customers. The same applies for specific technological competences within Imtech in Europe, for example energy, water, environmental solutions, care & cure and R&D. In the framework of the 2015 strategy, increasing use will be made of these competences. On balance, Imtech has a strategically strong portfolio in the UK, enabling it to focus on further internal and external co-operation and growth. Imtech is therefore looking optimistic to its future in the UK.
Including its marine, ICT and traffic activities, after the acquisition Imtech will be one of the biggest technical services providers in the UK.