York-based Holmes Catering Equipment, which was established 25 years ago, announced in October that the company had gone into administration. The company designed and installed catering schemes for commercial foodservice and retail customers.
Ian Bidmead, managing director of Space UK, said: “We’re excited by the acquisition of the well-established and well regarded Holmes name and look forward to welcoming the business and its people into the Space fold.
“Geographically, the move fits perfectly with what we’re doing and it opens the door to additional projects for us in the retail and hotel sectors, alongside what we already do across foodservice and hospitality in general.”
Space UK now plans to drive growth across the business and provide a broader range of services as part of its strategy to offer a total solution to its customers. The acquisition also means that Space will open their first site in the North, to complement its existing businesses in the South West and the South East (Gloucester and London, respectively).
Bidmead added: “We are committed to rebuilding the business, as a separate entity, and although there will be some synergies, it will be business as usual for Holmes’ existing customers with the new company having its own management team.
“That team will be led by Lee Martin, who brings 25 years industry experience with him, as MD to run the new business as a separate company within our group.”
Space has also saved the 25 jobs from Holmes existing core team and use the company’s capabilities in shopfitting and joinery to broaden the range of services its recently formed interior fit-out business can provide.
The interior fit-out business, Space Interior Contracts, set up 12 months ago, has turned over £1 million and means Space can look after every aspect of a commercial refurbishment, including walls, ceilings, floors and M&E needs.