BGF invests £3.2m into Environmental Essentials

Environmental Essentials is one of the UK’s leading asbestos service providers. In December 2015, BGF invested £3.2m in the company to support continued organic and acquisitive growth.

Based in Stoke-on-Trent and operating from six offices throughout the UK, the business provides asbestos management, training and surveying services to corporates, local authorities and public sector institutions. Clients include Asda, Marks & Spencer, The Co-operative Group and Savills. Richard Powner and James Riley co-founded the business in 2004.

Environmental Essential’s management team is using the funding to open a national asbestos training centre in Stoke-on-Trent and a new office in Aberdeen focused on the oil and gas sector.

The funding will also support selected acquisitions of businesses in asbestos and complementary health and safety and compliance services in strategically-relevant regions of the UK.

Simon Cashmore, CEO of BGF-backed TCL Group, has joined Environmental Essentials’ board as non-executive chairman.

Richard Powner, co-founder and Director at Environmental Essentials: “There is a sizable market opportunity for us to go after in the UK. With BGF’s support we are now in a position to accelerate our growth plans across the UK whilst continuing to deliver first rate customer care to our existing clients.”

Mark Freer, Investor, who joins the Environmental Essentials’ board on behalf of BGF, said: “We are excited to be backing a business that is clearly highly regarded by its customers in a market in which there is enduring demand.

“Asbestos is an issue that affects a significant proportion of UK commercial and public sector buildings and Environmental Essentials is one of a handful of operators able to provide a truly national service as demanded by major corporate clients.

“We look forward to working with Richard, James and the rest of the team to help them deliver their ambitions for the business.”