Long Established Heating Maintenance Company For Sale

Business description

The business was established in 1962 by a local based mechanical & electrical engineer and after his death in the late '80s has continued operating under the management of family members who have continued to expand the very varied client database, which now has some 400+ regular servicing contracts. Although originally attending mainly large domestic-type boiler plant, this has changed over the years and now approximately only 10% is domestic-type, with the remainder being commercial-type plant. The company carries out servicing and repair work on both gas and oil fired heating equipment and includes boilers, water heaters, air heaters, gas boosters, air handling units, pumps, pressuriation equipment, expansion equipment, sealed system equipment and associated fans, controls etc. Customers are primarily SME's and include domestic premises, schoools, offices, churches, leisure clubs, entertainment establishments, private estates, nursing and care homes, hotels, universities, factories, apartment blocks, police authorities and local authorities. The business operates with a small, but highly skilled, experienced team of Engineers and office administration staff. Where it chooses to, the company also carries out installation work when the need arises and dependant on current workloads and ease of installation. The company prides itself on the fact that since its inception in 1962, it has offered 24/7 - 365 days a year emergency breakdown service to all clients who hold regular servicing contracts with the company and this service proves invaluable to many customers who require heating and hot water services without interruption. The company has continued to win servicing contracts over and above other companies because of the highly efficient 24 hour breakdown service that it offers. The company covers a radius of approx 65 miles of the area in which it is based, working in Dorset, Hampshire & Wiltshire. It is registered with GAS SAFE, OFTEC, NICEIC and subscribes to the FSB & BSI .

Property information

Property:

Leasehold

Lease terms:

3 year Lease

Leasehold rent:

£16,500k per annum

Location:

The company operates from premises that are approximately 3 miles to the NW of Bournemouth and approximately 1 mile from Poole Town Centre and enjoys good road communications, giving easy access to both Poole and Bournemouth.

Premises details:

The business operates from an industrial unit and the premises are divided into 2 floors. This includes a large main admin. office, 2 further small offices, a large parts and storage area plus kitchenette and W.C.(all on the upper floor). On the ground floor is a further small office, engineers' workshop area, large storage area plus a second W.C.

Size in square feet:

2,376

Business Operation

Expansion potential:

The business has been managed over the years to suit the Directors' own requirements. It has spent very little on advertising except for a few local church diaries for clients' and occasional customers' anniversary adverts in the local press. The company does not advertise in the yellow pages or local papers. All work has been via the company's good reputation and by word of mouth. The company quite often turns away business that it cannot cope with due to existing workloads. The owners believe there is huge potential for growth in the business if substantial advertising was to be put in place and there is a large marketing opportunity arising in two years time when the company reaches its 50th anniversary. This together with expanding the workforce or amalgamating the workforce with another company, would help the business grow even further. The company is well known throughout the local area but there is, of course, the potential to expand this area to encompass a much wider field beyond, Dorset, Hants & Wilts.

Competition / Market:

The company is in the early stages of having a website built and is confident that when this is completed, it would be sure to attract further potential clientele. The company runs a fleet of 5 service vans, all of which are professionally signwritten.

Reasons for selling:

Although one of the Directors has been retired for some time, the other working director now wishes to take early retirement away from the U.K. Both directors feel the business is now well placed to pass on to new owners for expansion.

Trading hours:

Mon - Fri 8.30 a.m. - 5.30 p.m. + Engineers on emergency call out 24/7 - 365 days a year.

Employees:

9 - There are 2 Directors, 4 fully qualified service engineers (1 of whom is also the Service Manager), 1 Trainee Service Engineer/Electrician, 1 Office Manageress, 1 Office Clerk. One of the Directors oversees the general daily running of the business alongside the Service Manager. The other Director is retired but remains on the board of directors as Chairman. The 4 fully qualified service engineers are experienced in both the field of Gas and Oil fired heating equipment. 2 of these engineers are also fully qualified Electricans. The trainee engineer is working towards qualifications in the Gas, Oil and Electrical fields.

Years established:

1962

Other information

Support & training:

Assistance will be given to help out with the smooth transition of the business and the owners would be prepared for a short period of time to introduce the new owners to major existing clients where required.

Relocatable:

This business can be relocated.