Telford-based Dodd Group plans further growth after EIBA triumph

The Telford-based electrical and mechanical engineering company had won an extension to one of its biggest-ever contracts earlier in the day, after an agreement with the developer behind HSBC's new headquarters at Arena Central in Birmingham.

That was coupled with the company taking home the Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Enterprise Flex-E-Rent at the EiBA ceremony at RAF Museum Cosford, fending off competition from fellow Telford business Reconomy, which specialises in waste, and Burford-based Orchard Valley Foods.

It leaves the Stafford Park company primed for further growth as it marks the 70th anniversary of its launch in Crosshouses in 1947.

"We have received our biggest-ever change order on the HSBC building, for £6 million," said managing director John Kavanagh. "It makes the total project value £21 million.

"We are working so well in partnership with our client, Galliford Try, that the two teams have become one, and that's testament to the success of the project.

"We are really good at the £5 million to £10 million type of work, mechanical and electrical-wise. This has put us into the arena of the major players

"We are able to plan on a national level, for major projects, which we never were before."

Now the company, which turned over more than £140 million in the year to the end of March, is now looking to expand again, and is hoping to attract the staff that will allow it to do so.

"I would like to see by our 75th year we are turning over £200 million," Me Kavanagh added.

"We are one of the best at what we do and can continue to prove that."

Group marketing and communications director Nick Jones said: "To grow we need to recruit the right people. Within the construction sector skills the skills shortage is the biggest obstacle to growth."

Mr Kavanagh said: "We have to nurture out own staff, train them, give them the appropriate education to take them to a senior level."

Dodd Group, which employs more than 800 people at sites throughout the country, is now continuing to win new business, including projects with the University of Birmingham, on a prison being built in Norwich, and with councils across the region such as Warwick, Solihull, Walsall and Sandwell.

"We like to keep a healthy mix of larger construction projects coupled with ongoing long-term maintenance contracts with local authorities," Mr Jones added after picking up the top prize at the awards ceremony.

"We are looking forward to presenting the trophy to Tom Dodd, the chairman of Dodd Group. The family-owned business was started by his father in 1947 and under Tom’s leadership it has grown to where we are today.”