A CONSTRUCTION company that scooped major business awards is set for a booming 2020. At the fourth Hyndburn Business Awards, judges were hugely impressed by the achievements of Rosslee Construction, and the way it has been transformed since Gary and Christine Clarkson bought the business in 2002.
Last June, the company won both the Large Business and Apprenticeship trophies at the local awards and then at the HIVE Business Awards in Blackburn they added a second Large Business Award. Business Development Manager Jess McClurg said: “A lot of the staff are from the Accrington area while many are from Blackburn and for them to have their hard work acknowledged and recognised locally is amazing.”
The company has been based in Accrington since the 1970s, but it was Gary and Christine’s vision and a dedicated workforce that led the turnover to increase from £250,000 to £15m last year. New staff have been appointed and more apprentices taken on as larger projects have been awarded.
Currently the business is delivering developments at Finsley Gate Wharf in Burnley, The Mount Pavilion in Fleetwood and St Edmund’s School in Manchester to name a few. Closer to home, the company refurbished Accrington and Rossendale College and is carrying out face-lifting of properties in the Wood Nook area.
Jess said: “At one stage we were undertaking a lot of smaller contracts and those got the business though the recession and the downturn in the industry, but now the contracts we are securing are much larger – £2m-£3m. We do not like to use a lot of subcontracted labour so that we can ensure the workmanship is carried out to Rosslee standards. Gary prefers to employ people who are trained up to our high quality standards.”
A further four apprentices have been taken on in joinery, ground working and bricklaying. The company is currently seeking a new home for its joinery department based at Black Abbey Street. The vacant space would then be refurbished to create larger office space for the expanding admin and business departments. Rosslee remains a family business with one son Michael now a director while the Richard also works for the firm as a skilled joiner.
Nominations for this year’s fifth Hyndburn Business Awards will open in March and the presentation will be on June 16. For more information about the awards, which are organised by Enterprising People, contact Rob Carder by emailing rob@enterprisingpeople.co.uk
Story by Catherine Smyth Media