Construction firm hit by Covid-19 and Brexit anticipating best year in a decade

A construction company which has decades of experience in the medical sector is gearing up for a record year.

Sandycroft Construction, which is based in Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, had a ‘tough’ 2020 after seeing its turnover fall by 15 per cent as a result of the global coronavirus crisis and Brexit.

And while the business was able to maintain its profitability, a number of projects were cancelled and delayed which made it difficult for bosses to ‘forward-plan.’

But now the firm has launched a recruitment drive in anticipation of ‘one of the best year’s’ it has had for more than a decade.

Director Richard Whalley – who took over the business with Karl GreatRex in 2008 – said: “Lots of projects we were working on this time last year were delayed because of the pandemic and we had to furlough our staff for about two months.

“At the same time, Brexit has had impact and we’ve seen some massive cost increases, particularly on timber, steel and insulation. We’re not just talking small increases either, in some cases they’ve jumped from five per cent to 15 per cent. So last year was a really tough year for us.”

Richard added: “We managed to pick up a few smaller projects last summer and have now started on site at some of the projects which were delayed last year, and I’m pleased to say that our order book is now 80 per cent full.

“The construction industry is really buoyant at the moment and we expect that will continue; the next three or four years will be bumper years’ for the industry.

“We are predicting that 2021 will be one of the best year’s we have had since we took over the business in 2008.”

Sandycroft is one of the UK’s leading experts in the construction of renal dialysis clinics for the treatment of patients with kidney disease.

Projects in the healthcare sector make up around 70 per cent of the business including the design and construction of care homes, hospital wards, mental health facilities and secure units.

But the company also continues to grow its work in other areas of building and construction for projects in the education, industrial, domestic and commercial sectors.

The firm currently employs 35 staff, but it is looking to increase its workforce to around 40 by the end of the year.

At the moment, Sandycroft has vacancies for experienced groundworkers, site managers and multi-skilled worksmen.

Richard said: “Quite a few construction companies have not survived the pandemic and luckily we have been able to bring some of that experience into our business and offer jobs to a couple of guys, now we need more people.

“We have identified that the civil engineering side of the business is a growth area for us, so experience is key.”

“Over the next 12 months we want to take our business to the next level – we want a £15 million turnover.”

For more information about the vacancies at Sandycroft Construction visit the website or call 01782 210440.