Drainage firm pumping investment into UK expansion

23rd November 2012

A family-owned Peterborough firm is expanding across the UK with support from Clydesdale Bank.

DALROD, which has its headquarters on Welbeck Way, has opened new premises in the north east, added new franchises to the business and celebrated a string of major contract wins, backed by support from Clydesdale Bank's Business and Private Banking Centre on Church Street, Peterborough.

The drainage firm was established in 1985 by Walter Lane and since he passed away in 2008 has been run by son Dave and his wife Joanne, managing director and finance director respectively.

The company's latest expansion has seen its north east operation move to a new 1,000 sq ft unit at Throckley in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and comes 12 months after DALROD bought out competitor firm AAA Drains.

DALROD, which employs around 30 people in Peterborough, has also launched a partnership with a drainage company in the Wirral area, adding to successful franchises in Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire.

Dave Lane said DALROD is on track to grow turnover by 25 per cent this year and has made major strides over the last four years with the support of Clydesdale Bank.

Dave said: "Clydesdale Bank has been looking after us for the duration of the company's history. The Bank's hands-on support counts for a lot and without their advice, backing and investment, the business wouldn't be what it is today.

"Over the last few years we've made some major developments and are gradually increasing our presence. The investment in a new facility in Newcastle is the latest in a long line of expansions.

"My father established a really good business from scratch which was built around the strong reputation he had in the Peterborough area. When he died and I took over it was left to me at probably one of the worst possible times given the state of the economy.

"We took the decision to look at different avenues of business and rebranding the company – and I've no doubt that if we hadn't done so we wouldn't be here today."

Dave and Joanne are putting plans in place to secure the future of the firm for many years to come.

Dave continued: "We've maintained a strong client base across Cambridgeshire and are continuously growing across the UK. Winning major contracts recently to carry out sewer renovations with a well-established national brewery and a major airport just demonstrates how far we've come.

"Over the next few years we have aspirations to continue this growth and as part of our plans my son Daniel, who is 18, has just joined the business and, like I did, will start at the bottom and will hopefully work his way up and continue to take the DALROD name forward."

Brian Colquhoun, Clydesdale Bank regional director, said DALROD has a growing reputation.

Brian said: "DALROD is an established business which is always on the lookout for growth opportunities and we're proud to have supported the company for many years.

"The Growing Business support package Bank recently launched by Clydesdale Bank is designed for companies just like DALROD who have plans to invest in equipment and machinery, or taking on or extending premises.