Public sector’s reforms and office refits making Space Solutions tick

By KRISTY DORSEY
Published on 08/09/2012 00:00

A PUSH by councils and other public bodies to share their services has led to a 23 per cent jump in turnover at office design firm Space Solutions.

Reforms in the public sector are leading to more organisations moving into shared offices, providing a boost for the Aberdeen-based company.

In the private sector, the lack of offices being built has led to a surge in demand for the refurbishment of existing premises.

Steve Judge, managing director of Space Solutions, expects accounts currently undergoing audit to show turnover hit £24 million in the year to 30 June, while profits will be higher than last year’s just £1.1m.

The company completed a number of substantial contracts during the year, including the design of new head office for Bibby Offshore, refurbishment of the base for the 2014 Commonwealth Games organising committee and the design of Toshiba’s offices in Edinburgh.

Judge – who launched Space Solutions in 1997 as part of Chess Group before leading a management buy-out in 2007 – said the current financial year had also got off to a good start, with the firms securing £11m-worth of work in July and August.

Space Solution’s London office won £1m-worth of work last year and has already matched that total in the past two months, including securing a £600,000 contract in Paris.

The company – which also lists Aberdeen Asset Management, Optical Express and Wood Group among its clients – employs 180 workers across its six sites in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Livingston and London.