One of Nottingham's oldest mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors has spent £1.6m creating an eco-friendly head office at a new location in the city.
Skerritt commissioned Bodill Construction to unify two Nottingham buildings into one open-plan head office, complete with energy-saving systems.
Energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, solar- powered hot water systems, rooftop photovoltaics and rooflight systems that redirect daylight into enclosed offices, are some of the eco-measures implemented at the new building.
Around 80% of Skeritt's city-based workforce have moved to the new St Marks Street headquarters from the old Skerritt offices on Union Road, which has been the company's base since 1985. The new offices have been designed to accommodate future expansion of the Skerritt team.
Development director Les Francis said: 'Our old dillapidated premises were a maze of separate little offices and the new offices, with the latest in IT technology, will improve communications significantly. Staff are delighted with their new environment. This is a long-awaited move for Skerritt, which will undoubtedly lift the company's industry standing and staff morale, underlining our readiness to meet the increasing demands of customers in the face of current and future economic challenges.'
Les Francis added: 'In 2006, we embarked on a five-year plan to double the size of the company. By 2007, turnover had gone from £28m to £46m. We've done that through partnering frameworks with big construction companies, by proving ourselves in the commercial sector, by modernising our offer, and by retaining our traditional values: good service and integrity'.
FG Skerritt was established as a Nottingham-based plumbing firm in 1899. Now owned by former employee, Nat Puri, Skerritt currently employs more than 250 people from its offices in Nottingham and projects across the UK.