A Leicester fit-out specialist is marking its 125th anniversary with a record £115 million order book and annual sales of £60 million.
Interior fit-out specialist EE Smith has won a string of multi-million pound contracts in recent years, many in the heart of the capital, which it expects will send revenues up by another £10 million next year.
Recent jobs include work on the UK Supreme Court, The Savoy Hotel, Battersea Power Station, the Houses of Parliament, the Corinthia Hotel and the United Airlines Heathrow T2B departure lounge.
The business underwent a management buy-out in 2016 and has taken on dozens of new staff since then.
It is continuing to expand its apprenticeship scheme, with 40 apprentices currently “earning while learning” across its factory and site operations in London and Leicester.
EE Smith was founded back in 1897 by Edward Elijah Smith who supplied and repaired gas stoves and chandeliers from Canning Street, in Leicester.
In 1937, he employed 14-year-old apprentice Basil Richardson who, after serving in the Second World War, returned to find Mr Smith in poor health, leaving Basil as the managing director and foreman at just 22.
Basil put the company back on the road to prosperity, and later encouraged his eldest sons Rodney and Nigel to work their way up through the business to take over in 1989.
Under their guidance, EE Smith Contracts continued to thrive when the company expanded and developed into the super prime residential and five-star hotel market before the 2016 management buy-out which also included Basil’s youngest son John Richardson.
Director Rodney Richardson said there are not many companies in the sector that had been around as long as EE Smith Contracts.
He said: “We have always delivered to a very high quality, with a real customer focus and I think that has been vital to our success and longevity.
The business has a 40-year relationship with the Edwardian Hotel group, culminating in the recent fit-out of The Londoner Hotel in Leicester Square, the biggest in the company’s history, including 355 bedrooms and bathrooms and all of the public area spaces.
EE Smith Contracts managing director Neil Bottrill said that the 125-year milestone was testament to the hard work and skill base throughout the company and the loyalty of the staff.
He said: “Our current portfolio of projects is amongst the best in the UK fit-out and joinery markets and we have every reason to believe that further exciting times are ahead for the business.
“We are growing year-on-year and we currently have 40 apprentices, doubling last year’s apprentice joiner workforce.
“We hope they will rise through the ranks and be an asset to the company as we teach them the skills we have always relied on for EE Smith Contracts to prosper.
“Despite our evolution over the years our core values established by Edward Elijah Smith in 1897 are the same, as we strive to deliver the highest quality product and service whilst operating as a close-knit community, with our incredible people at the forefront of our success.
“We will continue using the latest cutting-edge technology and seamlessly merging this with our unparalleled craftsmanship to continue setting the standard in our industry.
“Here’s to the next 125 years.”
