2007
akp Scotland has scored a major coup with the appointment of James Andrew, former chief executive of fit-out, social housing and maintenance services company Morris & Spottiswood, as an associate director with the company.
James, who has more than forty years experience in the industry, joins the company as it embarks on an ambitious growth strategy to grow turnover from £18 million to £40 million within five years.
Ian McEwan, Managing Director and founder of akp, one of Scotland's fastest growing contracts, interiors and healthcare specialist contractors said: "We are delighted to have James join the business and this is further testimony to our commitment and investment in driving the business forward in both sales and delivery standards."
A chartered surveyor by profession and former managing director of Henry Boot Scotland, James helped Morris & Spottiswood to more than double its turnover from £60 million to £125 million in the three years he was chief executive.
James says he intends to apply his strategic skills in areas such as financial governance, lean project management and people development to drive the business forward.
Drawing on his extensive contacts within the industry, he will also be focusing on developing new business in the Glasgow area, where he is on the Board of Management of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.
He said: "Glasgow is going to be experiencing ten years of significant growth particularly if we win the Commonwealth Games bid.This is going to be something of a golden era for the city.
"When you consider that £6bn is being spent on regenerating the waterfront from Glasgow to Greenock, £100m on the first phase redevelopment of the St Enoch's Centre and the proposal by Buchanan Galleries to double in size, it gives you some idea of the scale of opportunities for companies within the building sector."
akp Scotland was founded 12 years ago and has three specialist divisions Contracts, Interiors and Healthcare. Recent high profile contracts include the £6.5 million contract to fit out the new cardio-thoracic unit at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank. Other contracts include the extension to Glasgow High School and A&S Ireland's offices in Glasgow for which the company was awarded a Silver medal from the Association of Interiors Specialists Contractors Awards.
The company's fit out for Transport Scotland's new headquarters at Buchanan House in Cowcaddens came Highly Commended in the Interiors Fit Out for contracts over £500,000 category.
The company relocated its headquarters to East Kilbride this summer as part of a £1/2 million restructure and rebranding move to fulfil its ambitious growth strategy.
Ian McEwan added: "We now have substantially strengthened the existing management team having worked tirelessly in recent times to improve every level of our business."