Deal strengthens core business for Europa

Europa has bought Nationwide Building Services Group, the parent company of Nationwide Maintenance, Falcon Mechanical and Nationwide LCS.

The combined operation will have 230 staff in Yorkshire, including offices based in Wakefield and Leeds.

Greig Brown, the Europa chief executive, told the Yorkshire Post: "It will have a positive impact in Yorkshire. We have built a critical mass in the region."

He said there would be "no negative impact on jobs whatsoever".

Mr Brown also stressed that it was not a reactive acquisition, because Europa had been thinking about buying Nationwide Building Services for a year.

In a statement, Europa said the integration of the Nationwide business and employees will strengthen its core services, and also enable it to deliver building maintenance.

The new division will trade as Europa Nationwide Technical Services, and the management will stay in place.

John Quigley will take on the role of managing director, while John Ralph becomes operations director and Chris Sykes has been appointed finance director.

Following the deal, Europa will have a turnover of more than 140m, and employ about 2,500 people, making it one of the largest independent organisations within its sector.

Mr Brown said: "The Nationwide team has built an exciting and strong business that complements Europa's vision to become a leading property and infrastructure support services company.

"Our companies have formed a strong working relationship over the years and the management team for this deal has worked really hard over the past 12 months to reach the point where we can bring our two companies together in the best way for our people and our clients."

He added: "By joining forces, we can deliver a comprehensive service for our clients and create new opportunities for our own people. Importantly, the team of directors for this division can continue to develop their already successful business within the Europa group.

"I'm confident that this partnership will have the flexibility and resources needed to continue to build on our success".

Mr Quigley added: "We are delighted that this deal has taken place and strongly believe that the technical capabilities Nationwide brings to Europa shall offer a tremendous proposition to the UK services sector.

"Our synergies, cultures and complementary services make us natural partners and together we will have the strength to gain even greater market share."

Earlier this year, Europa bought the key contracts and assets of Operon, a Yorkshire company which managed some of the UK's best-known buildings.

Operon, which was the trading name for Integrated Building Services Engineering Consultants, went into administration in January.

In recent years, Leeds-based Operon had secured contracts to work at the Imperial War Museum in London and the Central Science Laboratories in York.

The acquisition saw Europa meet all outstanding salary commitments for 553 employees who transferred to Europa as part of the deal.

The new team is operating as part of Europa and offers facilities management services to clients from national and local government, including higher education and health.

Yesterday, Mr Brown said he was "very satisfied" with the performance of the former Operon business since the acquisition.

Growing presence in region

Europa is a privately-owned property and infrastructure support services business, operating across the UK.

It employs 2,200 staff and has a head office in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.

Europa delivers services across four markets – corporate, public, retail and utilities.

It has 50 customers across the UK including blue chip companies such as CBRE, Capital Shopping Centres, United Utilities, Legal & General and Thurrock Council.

Nationwide Maintenance is one of the UK's biggest providers of planned, preventative and emergency maintenance in the commercial, retail and industrial sectors.