Another company with a construction background has made the move to the more highly rated Support Services stock market sector. The Tilbury Douglas group, which includes services provider Interserve, will move from Construction and Building next month to join Amey, WS Atkins, Jarvis and other FM players in support services.

Support services now account for more than 45% of turnover at Tilbury Douglas and most importantly, over 75% of profits. The support services division, together with equipment services, reported turnover of £349m and profits of £29.5m.

Michael Bottjer, chairman of Tilbury Douglas, said: "We are pleased that FTSE International has recognised Tilbury Douglas’ transformation into a provider of integrated services. The group now has critical mass in Support Services and we are providing an integrated range of services to many notable customers, both in the private and public sectors. The opportunities to add value for customers and shareholders in this growing market are considerable."

Speaking to i-FM, Bottjer said that while construction was a high risk/low margin business he would not want to exit from it entirely: "Construction is important to us. For one thing it enables us to tackle everything on a PFI contract. Clients increasingly want a broad, integrated package of services."

Tilbury Douglas has four principle divisions: Support Services, Equipment Services, Construction Services and Capital Projects. Support Services comprises Industrial Services, Facilities Services and Engineering Services. The facilities services activity is undertaken by Interserve fm and How Environmental.

Bottjer sees great potential for the facilities services businesses within Tilbury Douglas and anticipates growth in industrial services, particularly in the petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals sectors.

Richard Byatt

More information on Tilbury Douglas and Interserve at:
http://www.tilburydouglas.co.uk/
http://www.interservefm.co.uk/