Case Study: Meldrum construction company built on integrity
Dave Meldrum, CEO, of Meldrum Construction Services Group Ltd (Meldrum Group), set up his business with a desire to do something different. He started out in 2001 as a standing start with three other guys in a van. Now, the firm employs more than 220 people and has a targeted turnover in 2024 of £70m.
Meldrum offers specialist services and solutions in construction, civil engineering, steel fabrication, facilities, fire engineering and building services, providing a fully integrated service for construction projects.
Expansion
Opening an office in Cambridge in 2023, this once regional contractor - which also has premises in Gateshead and Teesside - is now able to service the whole of the UK. This latest expansion was born from current clients requesting Meldrum’s services out of the region and followed the delivery of a host of successful projects in the South East area for repeat, national clients.
The Cambridge office recently delivered a £9.8m project for Linnaeus Vets of a fit-out and extension of the existing veterinary hospital for Dick White Referrals (DWR), one of the largest multi-disciplinary vet referral centres in Europe. Other notable projects include the £6.8m Redhills Revealed project, home to the Pitman’s Parliament, where Meldrum is refurbishing Durham’s Miners Hall and building two new wing extensions.
Meldrum’s core values are Integrity, Pride, Passion, Quality and Innovation. The business holds the Investors in People Gold accreditation, firmly believing it is the people that make the business, and over the past 23 years has supported more than 180 apprentices and trainees.
A valued working relationship
Dave has worked with Armstrong Watson since 2020 and has experienced around 10% growth year on year. He said he appreciates the full support and value of the partnership.
Commenting on Meldrum’s relationship with Armstrong Watson, CEO Dave said: “Relationships are really important to me, and the business. We have grown our business through building relationships and repeat business as a result. What I love about Armstrong Watson is I regard Michael Morris as a confidante. It is really important to have that trust and also to be able to get a fresh perspective from someone who knows the business but isn’t in the business.
“I can put any scenario in front of Armstrong Watson, and I know as a business owner, I will get quality advice in complete confidence, which is really important, but it goes beyond that.
“It's not just about them understanding the business from an audit point of view. They want to get into the DNA of the business and then that way they can offer quality advice.
“The perfunctory stuff of getting audits done, you could argue you could go anywhere and get that done. With Armstrong Watson, I've found that it is a slick, easy process. It's very fast. They work to the dates we ask for. It's turned around very quickly, and consequently, I find the audit with Michael's team to be very seamless. It's easy. Running a business on your own can be very lonely at times, so having those people around to support is vital.”
Audit and Assurance Partner Michael Morris said: “I have known Dave for ten years and during that time he has built a fantastic business and a strong reputable brand. He is genuine, down to earth and has worked exceptionally hard over the years to get his business to where it is today. Listening to his clients’ needs and desired outcomes, building a strong team around him, as well as focusing on client service, are some of the reasons behind Dave’s success. This is very much at the core of Armstrong Watson and with our absolute focus on client service, I am sure we will continue to help other businesses and business owners to achieve their goals.”
