Scaffolding group builds growth as it seals deals for sport events

Leeds-based RIM Scaffolding Events Services will provide specialist scaffolding for test events for the London Olympics, which are currently underway, and for the Omega World Cup in China.

The specialist scaffolding business, led by joint managing directors, William Irish and Peter Madden, has also created 18 new jobs this year and is launching a new office in Guangzhou, China. The business, which has a warehouse facility in Abu Dhabi, is also planning to open an office in the United Arab Emirates early next year to expand its services in the Middle East.

The firm, which plans to create another 20 jobs next year, is backed by Yorkshire Bank Leeds Financial Solutions Centre through its Investing for Growth initiative.

As well as supporting the overall growth of the company as it expands in the Far East and UK, the funding includes asset finance to enable it to buy the extra scaffolding stock required to support the 2012 Olympic test events and the Omega World Cup.

The Garforth-based business was founded as a partnership in 1991 and three years later became a limited company, RIM Scaffolding (Leeds), which is still operating with many long-term contracts with local authorities throughout the UK. In 1997 the business diversified into the specialised events sector which requires a different approach and ten years later launched RIM Scaffolding Events Services.

RIM now has 65 staff and a £3.5m turnover.

The business provides scaffolding structures including TV camera towers, seating grandstands, marquee sub structures, commentary boxes, bridges, scoreboards and LED screen supports for customers including the BBC, Sky, European Tour, IMG Event Management, GL Events, Arena Structures and temporary structure supplier, De Boer, North- ants.

Mr Irish, said: “We achieve 85 per cent repeat business on annual events and are currently heavily involved with the Olympic test events which is a good indication of our involvement with the London 2012 Olympic Games.

“We have had to fund expansion out of cash flow for the last two years during the credit crunch which has constrained our growth ambitions.”