Asbestos firm aims to clean up with cash boost
A specialist asbestos management firm in Sunderland is aiming to create up to a dozen new jobs this year after securing a £50,000 investment.
Asbestos Audit, based at the city’s Hope Street Xchange, acts as both a main and sub-contractor on projects across the UK and it secured the investment from the North East Small Loan Fund Supported by The European Regional Development Fund.
Its recent high-profile projects include working on Covid-19 alterations at NHS hospitals and the Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor.
It plans to use the cash to further enhance its operations in and around London.
And is also looking to increase its activity in providing air monitoring and clearance services.
That means it is aiming to double the size of the business over the next year – taking its workforce from 18 to 30.
Ben Pickard, founder and managing director at Asbestos Audit, said: “We have a highly-skilled team working on projects of all sizes right across the UK.
"But have the ambition and ability to do a great deal more.
“London is already a key market for us.
"But the scale and number of projects there means there is a huge amount of potential for growth.”
He added: “The investment package offered by NEL was a good strategic fit with our growth plans and the team helped to make applying for it a very smooth process.”
Mike Guellard, investment executive at NEL Fund Managers, said: “Asbestos Audit has made tremendous progress in very short space of time.
"And our investment gives them the resources to accelerate their growth.”
Graeme Harrison, of Newcastle-based corporate advisors CCBS, and Chris Tindle of Galley & Tindle Accountants in Durham, advised the Asbestos Audit management team on the investment.
Mr Harrison, of CCBS, said: “We’re delighted to have helped a proven operator such as Ben Pickard obtain the finance required to grow his business.”