A Scottish contractor which has enjoyed rapid growth has unveiled a six-figure acquisition as it aims for further expansion.
Principal contractor Procast Group has bought Glasgow-based building surveying and cost consultancy business JC+P Property.
Hamilton-based Procast, which employs more than 130 staff, specialises in retrofitting work and “innovative”, multi-trade contracting projects across Scotland and the north of England.
Derek Innes has built Procast into a major retrofit contractor, with a turnover of £50 million in its last financial year, having started the business with just three employees after leaving North Lanarkshire Council to set up on his own around 12 years ago.
Procast’s main clients are local authorities and housing associations across Scotland and beyond, with the company having won projects north-west England.
The business has also set up a base in Aberdeen.
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JC+P, which is currently located on St Vincent Street in Glasgow and has an annual turnover of £640,000, specialises in building surveying, cost consultancy, CDM (construction, design and management) services and project management.
Its six-strong workforce will transfer over and continue its operations from Procast’s Hamilton base in early 2025.
Gordon Ross, who has been with JC+P for more than 20 years and has been a director of the firm, has been appointed as its managing director. And he will now sit on Procast's board.
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Procast noted the addition of JC+P means it will now have eight business divisions.
JC+P joins Procast Building Contractors, Procast Energy Services, Procast Property Services, Brimar Electrical Solutions, Thermsaver Heating Solutions, CHES and Curtis Heating, the Hamilton company noted.
Procast said that, with “ambitious plans for further growth”, JC+P is now hiring quantity surveyors and building surveyors.
It added: “Procast Group’s latest addition to its portfolio continues its plans for an upward trajectory to add a new business to its roster each year.
“The move allows for both businesses to lean into each other’s expertise, offer more value to clients, partner up on frameworks and submit bids together for new contracts.”
Procast noted that, while it worked mainly with housing associations and local authorities, JC+P works “in other avenues such as private developments, commercial property and education”.
Mr Innes, owner and managing director of Procast, said: “As we look to continue our growth, and expand further, the addition of JC+P to the Procast family is a huge boost.
“Particularly focusing on our work in retrofitting, the expertise we’ll gain from JC+P will be crucial in delivering more properties, including harder-to-treat ones, with improved design and build capabilities.
“We’ll be helping to train and invest in its staff, most of whom are long-serving, which was a huge selling point for me. This is a huge asset to our business and will really elevate our offering to our clients.”
Mr Ross said: “We are looking forward to growing and working together.”
Asked about his ambitions for Procast, in a recent interview with The Herald, Mr Innes said: “The ultimate ambition is to become a tier-one contractor within the next three years that is recognised as the market leader in retrofit and new-build, not only in Scotland but across the UK as we continue to grow.”
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