A family building firm behind more than 140 years of Hull and East Yorkshire construction projects is streamlining to ensure a solid future.
Nine jobs will be lost at Houlton as it consolidates its construction, building and maintenance divisions.
It comes with new projects worth more than £20 million in the pipeline, as the Hyperion Street firm builds back from industry stresses exacerbated by Brexit and Covid.
Richard Houlton, life president and the fourth generation at the helm of a business started by Humber-crossing Lincolnshire brickie George in 1879, said: “Job losses are regrettable, but we have kept them to a minimum and we are confident that these steps will help us improve the profitability and continued longevity of the business moving forward.
“We are busy and expect to be busier, with exciting new projects and repeat business from long-standing clients. By merging two divisions into one and cutting back on some of the overheads we will create a more streamlined company that looks towards the future.”
Latest accounts for the year to April 2019 show a £47 million turnover, with an operating profit of £275,000.
Mr Houlton said costs have been a concern in the construction sector for some time, even before the economic uncertainty of the Brexit referendum caused the cancellation of some large-scale projects. More recently supply chain and customs issues post-Brexit have interrupted deliveries of materials, resulting in some delays on site.
Covid brought fresh problems in March 2020 with the closure of most developments, including delays in re-roofing council houses in East Riding because occupiers had to stay at home.
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But by July Houlton had about 80 per cent of its staff safely back at work, having initially furloughed around 90 per cent. It now has a strong forward order book with recent completions including several projects for Hull Esteem under a partnering service agreement, including the refurbishment of the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull and the renovation of Trinity Market; the £7m Sandburn Hall Hotel near York and MyEnergi’s new headquarters at Stallingborough, on the outskirts of Grimsby.
The company is now on site at the new Beverley Business Centre, a £4 million project at Grovehill, due for completion later this year.
Following the £7.8 million delivery of projects for St Mary’s College and Kelvin Hall School it has received new project requests for the expansion of two more secondary schools in Hull, with work due to start in December for completion September 2022 at a total cost of £6 million. It builds on work in education dating back to the Hymers College build in 1893.
And having completed the renovation of the inside of Hull Minster in 2018, Houlton will return to build a £1.7 million extension on South Church Side.
Recent new projects to start include a £1.7m veterinary practice at Bridlington and a £500,000 special education scheme for Wykeland at Flemingate.
Houlton is also in discussions with Hull City Council about the renovation of Brunswick Arcade on Beverley Road, Hull.
In addition, Houlton’s recently launched Fire Protection division has secured a £4 million contract from ERYC to install and maintain fire doors over the next four years.
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Mr Houlton said: “This restructuring will allow us to run a more agile organisation that can adapt and react to our clients’ needs in an ever-changing marketplace. These changes will continue to deliver the high quality of work our reputation demands, on time and at a level that is commercially sustainable.
“As well as the 130 people directly employed by the business, we provide work for many sub-contractors, most of them based within 30 miles of our office. We also hope to increase the opportunities for apprentices and continue our support for communities and organisations throughout the city, and surrounding areas.”