Last updated 22nd September 2022
Speller Metcalfe
Speller Metcalfe is a major regional contractor with a strong base in the West Midlands and the South West and with a turnover of over £120 million.
Set up by Steve Speller and Andy Metcalfe in 1995, the firm works on projects ranging from £250,000 to £20 million in both the private and public sectors. It puts an emphasis on developing long-term relationships and much of its business is directly negotiated. It also holds appointments on a growing number of frameworks, including most recently ProCure 23.
Based in Malvern in Worcestershire and with a base in Wolverhampton, the firm works across a wide range of sectors including automotive, blue light services, commercial & industrial, education, healthcare, heritage, hospitality, residential, retail and sports & leisure. James Speller was appointed as the new managing director of the company earlier this year.
Notable projects where the company has worked include the £22 million Black Country & Marches Institute of Technology and the £27 million Beatrice Shilling Building in the West Midlands. As well as the NHS, recent clients have included Bosch, Aldi and the universities of Oxford and Bristol. The firm has also worked at Birmingham Airport.
The firm also has a specialist residential arm which has been building homes for 25 years.
Financials
To see the financials for Speller Metcalfe Ltd. go to Companies House and use Company number 06740881
In common with many regional contractors, Spellar Metcalfe has faced turbulent times recently. Its latest results were impacted by Covid and as well as a reduction in turnover, project margins came under pressure. However following a tough period in 2018/19, measures taken by the group have succeeded in returning it to profitability.Turnover stood at £104.7 million in the year to end-March 2021 which compares with £65.1 million in the six months to end-March 2020. Meanwhile, pre-tax profit over the same periods slipped to £0.54 million from £1.63 million. Although gross margins dipped to 7.6% from 9.7%, average cash balances during the year rose to £4.6 million from £2.9 million. The group’s latest annual report published in late October 2021, highlighted the steady increase in materials prices it had faced although after negotiations with a number of clients, these were not expected to have a material impact on operating margins. Meanwhile, the company started the new financial year running up to March 2022 with 70% of its budgeted workload secured (84% if work under pre-contract agreements is included) and its work pipeline remains healthy.
Operations
In Spring 2022, the group’s prospects in health-related work received a boost when it was named as one of the new suppliers on the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Construction Works and Associated Services 2 ProCure23 framework; an initiative between the NHS and CCS. Spellar Metcalfe has a place on Lot 1 for projects up to £20 million across the East and West Midlands regions. The firm already had a place on the CCS Construction Works and Associated Services (CWAS).
Other frameworks where the group holds appointments include NHS Shared Business Services, SCF Residential, Constructing West Midlands, Gloucestershire County Council, Pagabo-Medium Works and Procure Partnerships.
In early autumn 2022, the group is set to start work on a new £2.25 million Malvern Theatres development involving a 310 sq m extension designed by the theatre and Glazzards Architects and creating a new entrance and more educational and community space.
Meanwhile over summer 2022, Speller Metcalfe started work on a £6 million residential unit for specialist educational provider National Star at Ullenwood near Cheltenham. The scheme was procured through the Gloucestershire County Council Contractor Framework. The firm also recently started work on the £26 million Forest of Dean community hospital for Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust.
In the leisure sector, the group recently delivered a complex £15 million project, the Tarka Leisure Centre in Barnstaple which will be run by North Devon Council.
Glenigan Data
Speller Metcalfe ranks at no.72 in a Glenigan data league table of the largest UK contractors in the year to September 2022 with 21 major building contracts worth a total of £116.5 million.
Glenigan data also suggests Speller Metcalfe is set to maintain a busy workload for the year ahead. It shows the company is to be the main contractor on the £10 million privately-funded Ellen Badger Hospital in Shipston-on-Stour in Warwicks for client One Creative Environments where work is due to start in late autumn 2022 and continue for 17 months (Project ID: 20259484). The firm has also won a £2.7 million contract for 55 ‘later living’ flats at the Almonry Close Development in Hereford for housing association Rooftop Housing Group where work is due to start in late 2022 and run for 16 months (Project ID: 18218008).
Conclusion
After nearly 30 years in business, Speller Metcalfe has established a strong reputation in some of the more promising sectors – notably in health and education – in its home patch in the South West and West Midlands. Having returned to profit, the firm’s success in winning positions on public sector frameworks should ensure it benefits from a reliable stream of opportunities for new work during what may be some leaner times for privately-funded work. Meanwhile, the firm’s innovative approach to projects – by embracing concepts such as BIM, BREEAM, Integrated Project Insurance – also bodes well for its long term prospects.
How to win work with Speller Metcalfe
A page on the group”s website here gives full details of the group”s approach to its supply chain – which is based on developing strong and longstanding relationships – and on how to register an interest.
Key Contacts
James Green, Supply Chain Manager, based in Worcester
Telephone: 01684 571200
Martyn Chaplin, Commercial Director
Telephone: 01684 571200