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Guisborough civil engineers double turnover in 12 months

5th December 2008

A civil engineering and building company on Teesside is looking to build on its best-ever year by expanding into new markets.

Henderson Campbell is, in partnership with a building systems company, the biggest provider of secure modular buildings in the UK. Business has been booming since the family firm was accepted as a preferred supplier to the Home Office to undertake construction projects in prisons – to the extent that it’s set to double turnover in the current calendar year.

Even more impressive is the statistic from Henderson Campbell’s financial year of May 07-May 08 when its turnover increased by more than 350 percent.

And as the income has risen, so too have the number of jobs created. In May 07, they employed 52: in September this year, there were 100 on the company books. All are recruited from the area around Henderson Campbell’s Guisborough head office and that, says MD Antony Henderson, is one of the main reasons for their continued success.

“It is important to have a local, trusted workforce who are happy to travel wherever the work is and on whom we can call whenever and wherever they are needed,” he explains.

“Furthermore, unlike most other companies in the construction industry, we directly employ all our site workers. It may sound contrite to say that we are like one big family but we are. We look after people. I know every one and all about their families too and, even though we have grown considerably and will continue to do so, I am determined not to lose that family atmosphere.”

Antony knows all his staff because he leads from the front. He has spent the last eight months away from the office, personally overseeing the planning and preparation of each site, prior to arrival of the pre-engineered units. Which means that clients have immediate and personal contact with ‘the boss’ whenever they want.

“After ten years based in the office, it has been a re-education going back on site but a very valuable one as far as Henderson Campbell is concerned,” said Antony. “From my observations, liaisons with staff and dealings with clients, I have been able to refine and improve aspects of the operation at all levels.”

In partnership with Newark-based Caledonian Building Systems, specialists in pre-engineered buildings, Henderson Campbell were, in 2006, commissioned to expand 15 prisons at sites across the UK.

The experience acquired since then has now put Henderson Campbell in a strong position to work in any sector – and that’s Antony’s next aim. He is keen to build on previous experience of hotel and police station construction plus move into new areas such as Telecommunications, Port Authority and Utilities.

“Over the last year, we have proved we can handle anything that anyone throws at us,” he says. “My teams are hard-working, highly-skilled, loyal and all are Home Office approved. It doesn’t matter whether we are building prisons, schools, police stations or hotels, what Henderson Campbell can offer clients is second to none!”