Investment group GEG Capital acquires Highland construction company WGC (Scotland) in deal expected to open door to business growth with expansion of home-building partnerships with Albyn, Cairn and Highland Council amongst targets
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A DEAL involving two companies with strong links to Ross-shire is set to create fresh opportunities as new business is targeted.
Investment group GEG Capital Ltd has acquired leading Highland construction company WGC (Scotland) Ltd, formerly known as William Gray Construction.
WGC will continue as a standalone entity within the group with GEG Capital supporting the existing management team to target growth in the social housing, industrial and commercial construction sectors.
WGC has been involved in many construction projects in Ross-shire, amongst them a recently completed 46-home development in Avoch for the Highland Housing Alliance/Cairn Housing.
WGC, founded as William Gray Construction in 2001, has gone on to become one of the largest privately owned construction companies in the Highlands. GEG Capital says it will now benefit from new training opportunities and leadership support.
The deal anticipates new opportunities for WGC due to its existing relationships with GEG Capital group companies Global Infrastructure, Global Highland and Mabbett.
All 60 WGC employees will be retained after the acquisition, with commercial manager, Rhona Donnelly, set to replace current managing director, Dougal Murray. Murray will retire later in the year.
His successor brings over 30 years' experience in the sector to the role, and has driven growth in social housing construction at WGC after previously setting up the successful O’Brien Homes unit in the sector.
WGC’s social housing client base includes Albyn Housing, Cairn Housing Association, Highland
Council and Highland Housing Alliance.
Ms Donnelly said: "Joining the GEG Capital group of companies is a great opportunity for a Highland-based and Highland-focused construction company like WGC.We have a young, ambitious management team who I’m sure will prosper with the additional support, expertise and training opportunities that will come with our acquisition.
"On a personal note I’m delighted to succeed Dougal as managing director of WGC at this exciting stage in the company’s growth and wish him well in his retirement. I look forward to building on the excellent relationships we have built up with our loyal local client base - particularly in the social housing sector - and look forward to delivering many more key developments for our communities as well as the varied commercial and industrial projects we are renowned for."
Following its acquisition by GEG Capital, it is expected WGC will be able to call upon the engineering and civils expertise within the group to deliver projects on more technically challenging sites.
WGC now aims to expand its role as a preferred partner in the provision of affordable housing, creating local jobs and supporting the local economy.
GEG Capital director, Jia MacKenzie, said: “The acquisition of WGC Scotland by GEG Capital gives us further breadth to our expertise as we continue to grow the portfolio. The skills that the WGC team offer, present opportunity for growth within the industry and the support from the management team is in place to ensure that they release that growth potential.”
GEG Capital’s recruitment portfolio includes Global Highland, Cammach Bryant, Be Personnel and Genesis Personnel.
WGC enjoys a reputation for delivering technically challenging construction projects in a variety of sectors including social housing and industrial and commercial buildings.
Related: Avoch housing development opened by Black Isle MSP
