黑洞社区

Specialist fit-out contractor Como, part of Mace, is looking to the regions to continue its growth, after hitting 拢1bn cumulative turnover over its first 12 years of trading.

Trevor Bacon (pictured), Como鈥檚 business unit director, told 黑洞社区 the next phase of the 拢150m-turnover business鈥� expansion would see it target work outside London. Currently only 5% of Como鈥檚 work is outside the capital.

Bacon said the 鈥渕arket conditions are ripe for the business to grow鈥� across the UK.

Como鈥檚 140-strong staff is working on 45 to 50 projects per year ranging up to 拢50m plus, with about half of these being occupied fit-out projects.

Como is on site in Dunfermline, Portsmouth, Leeds and Swindon for repeat clients. Bacon said repeat clients will make up 80% of the firm鈥檚 business this year.

Only 5% of Como鈥檚 turnover is directly linked to joint venture projects with Mace.

The company has a 拢1.3bn fit-out pipeline and Bacon said 2016 and 2017 are shaping up well for the firm particularly as the banking and financial sector are on a 鈥渃omeback鈥� after a depressed few years. He admitted, however, that the fit-out and refurbishment market overall was 鈥渟till quite tough and competitive鈥�, and said costs have not yet risen to the levels predicted.

He said 2017 will see the highest amount of square footage in the fit-out sector since pre-2008, but did not yet see the sector hitting pre-crash levels.

Bacon predicted there was going to be a 鈥渕assive change鈥� towards smart buildings and 鈥渇uture proofing鈥� developments.

Como鈥檚 parent company Mace posted record turnover for the 2014 calendar year in June, with turnover up 26% to 拢1.5bn, while pre-tax profit rose 8% to 拢35m.