A chartered surveyors is marking expansion with new staff in its busiest year so far.
Portsmouth-based McAndrew Martin has just taken on new apprentice Luke Buxton, 19, as a trainee electrical and mechanical engineer.
He starts at the 14-strong company hot on the heels of Lewis Don, 21, who is a trainee building surveyor.
Luke, of North End, and Lewis, of Lovedean, follow in the footsteps of Lee Sargeant, 31, who has risen through the ranks at McAndrew Martin to director level after joining from school at the age of 16.
The appointments come as the business, led by managing director Bill McAndrew, goes from strength to strength in a record year.
Bill won the Personality and Achievement title in the News’s Business Excellence Awards this year.
McAndrew Martin is seeking to take on even more staff as its business grows – especially in residential surveys and architectural work – as the economy and property market pick up nationally.
Director Ian Lee said: ‘We are enjoying our busiest ever year.
‘We are going from strength to strength as we near our 25th anniversary in 2014.
‘We have a very dedicated, experienced and talented team but are always looking to the future, hence the very welcome appointments of Lewis and Luke.
‘Even with their addition, we are looking to take on more staff to meet the ongoing demand for our services as we expand even further.’
Latest figures show the fastest growth for three years in GDP nationally.
According to the Office for National Statistics, UK economic output rose by 0.8 per cent for the third quarter, between July and September – the highest rise since 2010.
It follows an increase of 0.7 per cent in the second quarter of 2013 and a rise of 0.4 per cent in the first quarter.
Last month (October) McAndrew Martin organised a charity golf day with financial services company ADN which raised about £4,000 for Help for Heroes.
