Olympic win for Fire Defence
August 2011
Contracts to install fire sprinkler systems in the 2012 London Olympic Village are the latest successes for South Molton-based Fire Defence.
The project, worth £500,000, involves two separate sites in Stratford and two different contractors.Plot N14 is a four-block residential site developed by Cilantro.
The blocks are 11 storeys high and Fire Defence has installed dry risers in each and full sprinkler systems, comprising over 1,200 sprinklers, in three of them.
The second plot, N02, is being developed by Ardmore Construction.
There are seven housing blocks on this site, of up to 10 storeys, and full sprinkler systems, comprising 2,200 sprinklers, have been installed in four with dry risers in all.
Fire Defence has a successful history of working with Ardmore on large-scale projects such as the Corinthia Hotel in central London.
The building standards for both plots are high: not only will they be accommodating world class athletes during the games, but will be sold afterwards as either private or social housing.
These contracts demonstrate Fire Defence's successful growth strategy.
Three years ago it employed 40 staff and now employs 92 across the UK. Its annual turnover has increased from £5.5 to £12m.
Finance director Colin Browne said: "We want to expand steadily by organic growth and acquisition. Our long-term strategy is to build a network of businesses around the UK."
It has already established a pipe fabrication business in Barnsley to manufacture pipes for the UK sprinkler industry.
Sales manager Norman Rider added that the company is very active in seeking opportunities to tender for projects such as the Olympic Village.
Colin Browne also said that Clydesdale Bank's assistance with introducing invoice financing to manage cash flow has helped the company considerably: "We would not have continued to grow without Clydesdale Bank's help."
Fire Defence is a family business run by Bill Johns, who founded it with his wife Sharon 30 years ago, and their son Keiran, currently managing director.
It supplies leading UK companies including British Land, Tesco, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury's and Waitrose.
Story taken from This is Devon
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