London boost for Sheffield fabrication firm

A Sheffield architectural metalwork firm, which is part of Meadowhall's £60m refurbishment, has secured orders of £16m due to a construction boom in London.
Dearneside Fabrications work on Moor Place, an office block in the City LondonDearneside Fabrications work on Moor Place, an office block in the City London
Dearneside Fabrications work on Moor Place, an office block in the City London

Dearneside Fabrications has won a string of orders to install steel balconies on skyscrapers in central London, including 22 Bishopsgate, formerly known as The Pinnacle, the Merano scheme on the River Thames and 190 The Strand, where a penthouse costs £10m.

The firm’s Meadowhall project involves replacing railings with glass balustrades.

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Turnover at the 120-strong company has risen by 58 per cent to £13.5m for the year to March 31.

Business development manager Matthew Horrobin said Dearneside was one of the few fabrication firms who could handle contracts of more than £4m, allowing it work on projects in the capital.

He added: “Historically about 30 per cent of our work was in central London but it’s currently about 90 per cent.

“We used to do a lot more in Yorkshire, particularly in Leeds, and we are hoping to pick up some more projects in the region soon.

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“Over the last six months we have found that the Yorkshire market is getting busier.”

Dearneside is based on Wallace Road, Parkwood Springs. It constructed a building for stainless steel fabrication after receiving funding from the Regional Growth Fund. It has covered two factory roofs in 250 solar panels to reduce its carbon footprint and cut energy costs.

“During the recession, the management took the decision to invest and grow the infrastructure of the company ready for when the market picked up,” said Mr Horrobin. “The company made no redundancies and even grew slightly so we are in a very good position today.”

Dearneside has hired an operations director and several managers in London.

It is in advanced negotiations on several multi-million pound contracts for projects in central London and the North of England, including Manchester, he added.