Hampshire: BDO recognises Lakesmere Group for its increase in international growth

Winchester-based Lakesmere Group has received special recognition by BDO, the accountancy and business advisory firm, in Southampton for its achievements in international growth as part of its 2015 Central South Mid-Market focus.

Lakesmere is a roofing and façade specialist, which in the last 12 months has grown from £86.4 million to £95.6 million turnover, recording its highest ever level of income. It expects to exceed £100m turnover in the next financial year and £130m in 2017, and has been awarded the Queen’s Award for International Trade – the UK’s highest accolade for business achievement.

Lakesmere chief executive Mark Davey said: “Our international division was established in 2009 following research into the growing airport and infrastructure markets in the Middle East. We now have six overseas offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, Muscat and Hong Kong, supporting growth in the Asia market.

“I firmly believe in building good relationships with clients and benefitting from repeat business to grow organically. It is crucial our international offices comply with local corporate laws on trading and employment, and are staffed with high level management relocated from the UK to ensure consistency in our values.”

Arbinder Chatwal, a director at BDO in Southampton and head of India Advisory Services, said: “As part of our research into the Top 20 companies growing internationally in the central south it became clear that Lakesmere’s outstanding performance should receive special recognition.

“Successful international mid-sized businesses (MSBs) such as Lakesmere have a 21st century mind-set. Simply exporting a UK-originated product or service is not today’s international way of working and is often not ambitious enough.

“Businesses need to begin to think and act like an international business from the start. This means being well prepared, adaptable, responsive, creative, using technological advantages and getting more involved overseas, taking control of markets when possible.”

BDO’s Central South Mid-Market campaign is part of a firm-wide manifesto to support the 31,000 companies mid-sized companies in the UK that employ over one quarter of private sector employment and nearly a third of all private sector turnover.