The jobs of highly skilled employees have been safeguarded at a survey firm in west Cornwall after it received a loan from Finance Cornwall.
The deal allows Kemp Chartered Land and Engineering Surveyors, based in Redruth, to expand its operation eastwards into Devon, opening offices in Newton Abbot and negotiating with a number of major clients over contracts in Exeter and the surrounding area.
Kemp’s contracts list includes some of the most prestigious building projects in Cornwall. The company is currently working for the Highways Agency on the A38 Dobwalls Bypass near Liskeard and for Cornwall County Council’s team at Newquay airport. Previous projects include extensive work on the new six mile stretch of the A30 dual carriageway over the Goss Moor, the Eden Project and Rick Stein’s refurbishment of his Seafood Restaurant in Padstow.
Director Scott Kemp, who is excited by the potential Finance Cornwall’s loan is opening up, says: “I have been in business for two decades and from a relatively small base in west Cornwall have worked on projects across the country. I am thrilled that Finance Cornwall’s investment is allowing us to expand in our core territory of the South West, recruit staff and fund further training.
“People really are the backbone of our business. We have a loyal and skilled workforce and the money from Finance Cornwall demonstrates its commitment to retaining highly qualified, professional workers in the Cornish economy.”
Scott Kemp says the expansion means there is real potential for career development and surveyors at the firm can progress to managing survey work for multi-million pound projects.
Mike Wall, Loan Fund Manager for Finance Cornwall, says: “We are delighted to enable such a specialist firm continue and expand its innovative work. It is commendable that an operation of this size invests so heavily in upskilling its staff and we respect and admire Scott Kemp’s vision and determination. He has been key in helping deliver landmark engineering projects in Cornwall and now, with our backing, looks set to carve a niche in Devon.”
The nature of Kemp’s work on the Goss Moor and Dobwalls bypasses means their staff are first on the ground and remain on site until the final coat of tarmac is laid. They mark out the route of new roads, map foundations and chart the positions of structures like bridges, drains, barriers and signs. The loan from Finance Cornwall will also enable Kemp to invest in more state of the art surveying equipment like GPS and “total stations” which are computerised, laser versions of theodolites. These create a 3D picture of a project from the outset, when the construction site is still bare earth.
Ends
Dated 03/03/08
Notes to Editors
Kemp Engineering & Surveying operates from offices at Datum House on Redruth’s Barncoose Industrial Estate. It was started 20 years ago by Scott Kemp, a Chartered Engineering Surveyor. The company employs in excess of 20 people, 75% per cent of whom are skilled surveyors and engineers.
For further details contact Scott Kemp on: 01209 214687 or visit: scott.kemp@kempengineering.co.uk
Finance Cornwall is a £20m venture investment fund targeting small and medium sized enterprises in this region with a range of equity, mezzanine and debt capital. Finance Cornwall can lend or invest from £20,000 to £1 million per business and, to date, has invested £8.5 million in over 100 businesses. It is part funded by the EU through the Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Finance Cornwall’s funds are administered by Finance Cornwall Fund Managers Limited, an investment company authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority registered in England and Wales, number 05010380, registered address 14 High Cross, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2AJ.
For further information visit: www.financecornwall.co.uk
Contact - PR for Finance Cornwall: Samantha McKay, PR Manager, Formedia. Telephone: 01752 762120 / Email: samantha@formedia.co.uk. |
