The decision to invest at the depths of the recession has led to a major national award for a Warwickshire firm – as well as a significant rise in turnover.
Cubbington-based O’Brien Contractors, a specialist civil engineering company, scooped the company of the year prize at the British Chambers of Commerce National Chamber Awards.
On the same night, managing director Peter O’Brien won the outstanding personal achievement award while the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce was a finalist in the Chamber of the Year category.
Peter said: “We certainly didn’t expect to win and we were very surprised to win both awards. Everybody on the table was over the moon.”
But there was good reason for the honour and £25,000 prize, which will be spent on bringing through apprentices in the company.
Like many other firms – particularly in the construction sector – O’Brien Contractors was feeling the ill effects of the recession but instead of retrenching, the firm invested.
“We had to take tough decisions, but we also wanted to invest to be ready for the upturn,” he added.
“We invested in the skills of our staff by training them, we invested in new equipment and we invested in diversifying the business so that when the recovery started we could take advantage.
“However, it was the longest recession I can certainly remember and there were times when we wondered whether we were doing the right thing but we stuck by the plan because we knew that a recovery would have come at some point. The world couldn’t stay on its knees forever.
“Our diversification saw us add to the services we offer. Previously, we would offer only the groundwork on a project – now we offer a full design and build service too – and we have developed some great relationships.
“Also, we have moved into the laying of specialist sports pitches for schools, sports centres and local councils. We have since won sole supplier status for Astroturf – the leading brand in this market place.
“Our turnover heading into the recession was around £15 million and it dropped to £11 million. Our projection for this year (ending March 31) is £20 million and to go beyond that in 2014/15.”
O’Brien Contractors was established by Peter’s father, Thomas O’Brien, 55 years ago. Peter and his brother, Michael, got involved around 35 years ago and, in 1995, took it from a partnership to a limited company.
In recent years, Phil Griffiths and Stuart Chamberlain have become shareholding directors in the business.
“It was a brave step to take in the midst of the recession, but they could see the strength of the business and vision of where we were going”, Peter added.
“It is great that all of our efforts have been recognised by the Chamber Award and it will spur us on to work even harder in the coming months and years to grow the business.”
Coventry and Warwickshire based companies The Ricoh Arena, Pailton Engineering and Serious Games International were all finalists at the National Chamber Awards.