Laurence and Stephen discuss a funding boost for an Insider award winning firm, Australian expansion for APEM and a new site for The Curling Club.
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00:00A funding boost for an insider award-winning firm, Australian expansion for APEM, and a new site for the Curling Club.
00:08That's all coming up in today's business briefing.
00:16My name is Lawrence Kilgannon.
00:19I'm Stephen Favreld.
00:20Well, good morning, Stephen.
00:22Morning.
00:22It's always interesting to see when insider-backed firms do well.
00:28We've actually got two examples of that today, starting out in the northwest, and in particular the Wirral, which you know is dear to me.
00:38And that's Brombra-based Marine Specialized Technology, MST group for short.
00:43They specialize in making boats for the Coast Guard, for police and law enforcement officers.
00:53So there's rapid boats that buzz around on the rivers and coastline of the country.
00:58And they've secured £6 million from NatWest to support their sort of working capital requirements and what have you.
01:07And that's to meet demand.
01:08So, you know, doing really well.
01:10They're building on a success in 2022 where they took home the Manufacturer of the Year for Made in the Northwest.
01:19And that was for the under-25 million pound turnover category.
01:24So, yeah, great to see that.
01:26Sort of really, really thriving business.
01:27It was founded in 2012.
01:30But now they've got about 135 staff.
01:35Brombra, do you know your world geography?
01:37I can't say I know it that well.
01:39No, OK.
01:40Well, that's kind of on the Liverpool-facing side of the peninsula.
01:44So I suppose it's part of that sort of historic maritime heritage that comes hand in hand with Liverpool.
01:51So perhaps you can tell me a little bit about another Insider Award winner.
01:56Yeah, that's right.
01:56So TC Consult, which is a Cardiff-based project management, quantity surveying, and cost consultancy practice, has announced record results.
02:05So great story there.
02:06The company was actually a winner at the Wales Property Awards in 2014.
02:10It took home the Consultancy of the Year Award.
02:12So, yeah, another success for an Insider-backed company.
02:16The company also completed a shareholder buyout by Paul Tenbini in 2023, supported by the Development Bank of Wales.
02:23It's now announced its results for the year ending January 2025, with a 12% increase in turnover to 904,000.
02:31So record results for the company there in the first full year since that buyout.
02:36It said the record-breaking results were down to improved customer relationships and investment in innovation and talent.
02:44So over the last year, it's grown its workforce from 10 to 14 people.
02:48So a nice bit of expansion there.
02:50It's also completed work UK-wide.
02:52Most of its clients are based in Wales, but it's also completed a $3 million office scheme in Dagenham for Unite the Union and projects in Leeds, Loughborough, Glasgow and Belfast.
03:02Right, so all over the UK.
03:04Yeah, really strong, strong growth story there.
03:06Great to see.
03:08Okay, well, the next one that caught my eye actually is, are you a fan of the Winter Olympics?
03:13I am, yeah.
03:14Tune in, tune in every quarter.
03:15Yeah, well, this is one of those, this sort of bar or hospitality business is built around the curling world.
03:27As the name suggests, the curling club.
03:28It's one of those sports I remember, it really caught the attention a few Winter Olympics ago when we had, we were doing really well with maybe it was Rona was our sort of star curler.
03:39But the curling club is opening later in 2025 in Manchester's New Jackson, which is characterised by its skyscrapers, many of them by Granica, the firm behind the developments of those skyscrapers.
03:56And it promises as long as well as the activity, because I don't know about you, where do you stand on competitive socialising?
04:02Yeah, I'm a fan, yeah. It's always fun for a night out.
04:06Yeah, no, it perhaps depends on my mood.
04:08I kind of sometimes feel old-fashioned and like just a group of friends, maybe a jukebox would be as far as I go.
04:16But having said that, I've also enjoyed axe throwing, bizarrely.
04:21So, and I'm sure I would enjoy golf and curling.
04:24But it's certainly a great addition to Manchester's sort of competitive socialising sector and opening up later on this year.
04:32So, perhaps as we're based in the city, maths have a go.
04:35I always fancy my chances. I sort of see it as like bowls on ice.
04:40It looks manageable on television, doesn't it? I assume there's, I expect there's quite a lot that's missed.
04:44Absolutely. I'm pretty sure that even standing up on the ice would be a task for me.
04:49But there we go. And sticking with the Northwest, you've got news of an expansion for one of our businesses.
04:56Yeah. So, Stockport-based APEM Group has announced its latest acquisition.
05:00It's acquired AARC Environmental Solutions, which works with clients in Australia and throughout Asia.
05:07So, that's going to increase the company's headcount in Australia to more than 275 people across 11 locations.
05:14It will also add a new offering in rehabilitation capabilities to the group's venture services.
05:20APEM, as people may be aware, has been backed by the private equity firm Westbridge since 2019.
05:25I know we've covered them a few times.
05:27Over the past three years, it's completed nine acquisitions now, as it seeks to grow and enhance its capabilities internationally.
05:37This year's Chief Executive, Leah McGimpsey, said the latest acquisition would further enhance its business in Australia and its ability to support clients across the Asia-Pacific region.
05:47So, it's a really, really, really interesting time for that company now.
05:50Excellent. Well, I suppose people working in the Stockport office will be keen to go and say hello to their newfound colleagues in Australia if they get the chance.
05:58But, we shall see.
06:00Anyhow, to read more about the stories we've discussed, go to InsiderMedia.com.
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06:12That's everything from us.
06:13See you next time.