NW Roofing Firm Gets £4.6m Investment

WIRRAL ROOFCARE, a family business employing around 80 people in Merseyside, has secured a £4.6m investment from private equity firm, Foresight Group.

Scott Williams continues as managing director and shareholder. Scott’s parents Herbert and Denise Williams, who started the business in 1982 have fully exited the business into retirement.

Brian Murphy, founder of the electrical and fire contractor Merseyside-based Fieldway Group, also based in Merseyside and backed by Foresight assumes Wirral Roofcare’s chairperson role. Fieldway Group focuses on public sector and housing association RMI contracts. He will support Scott and the management team on the next phase of the firm’s growth.

Wirral Roofcare holds contracts in the social housing sector across the North West, North East and Midlands. The company also works with outsourced service providers, insurers and domestic customers with emergency and planned roof repair and maintenance.

With annual revenues of £7m, a new finance director, David Pearce, has also been appointed. He was introduced by Foresight, and has worked with several other private equity-backed businesses in the past.

£4.6m Investment

Sophie Clough, Investment Manager at Foresight Group in the North West, said: “The Williams family have done an excellent job in building such a well regarded and successful business over the last 40 years and we are excited to be working with Scott and the team.

“In the run up to the investment, we introduced Brian Murphy to the company and believe his experience of working in partnership with us to grow, professionalise and scale a business in the building services sector, will be invaluable to Wirral Roofcare.”

She continued: “We see significant growth potential, both in building the company’s regional footprint by accessing larger frameworks and through expansion into the prisons and hospitality sectors.”

Accelerate Growth

Scott Williams said: “Now is the right time for us to accelerate our growth and I am delighted to be working with Foresight, who introduced Brian to the business.

He is someone who has already walked the same growth path in a similar sector, and I am sure will be a great benefit moving forward.”

Advisers to Foresight: Legal were Mills & Reeve’ Financial Due Diligence: Dow Schofield Watts; Commercial Due Diligence: PMSI; Management Due Diligence: Catalysis; Insurance Due Diligence: Gallagher.

The family shareholders were advised by KBS and law firm Hill Dickinson, and Moore & Smalley provided tax advice to the Williams family.

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