Obsequio Group named one of the top 100 fastest growing private companies in the UK

The Obsequio Group has this week been named one of the 100 fastest growing private companies in the UK.

With sales almost doubling over the past year, we won 37th place in the annual FEBE (For Entrepreneurs by Entrepreneurs) Growth 100 Award –  and are sharing the limelight with companies in the finance, IT, homewares, construction and wellness sectors.

With sales topping £14 million over the past 12 months, the award recognises our achievements across the compliance sector, with our member companies – CDS, Genex, Drax 360 and APS – offering fire safety, water, energy and security compliance to organisations in the health, education, logistics and social housing sectors in the UK.

FEBE’s aim is to recognise the fearless business acumen of entrepreneurs whose companies achieve impressive sales and profit against a difficult economic backdrop. Criteria include annual sales of between £3 million and £100 million, the founder or founders still being involved with the business and year-on-year growth.

The Obsequio Group was set up by entrepreneurs Simon Cashmore, now our Executive Chairman, and Simon Abley, our Group CEO. Their vision was to create an organisation which covered all aspects of safety and compliance, giving facilities managers a one-stop-shop to make their lives easier and reduce their overall costs – while ensuring the safety of their buildings, colleagues and service users covering a multitude of sectors; business parks, universities, hospitals, high rise apartment blocks, student accommodation, leisure centres and country estates.

Since acquiring fire security and life safety systems specialist CDS in 2020 and creating the umbrella Obsequio Group, Simon and Simon have bought six other compliance companies – including energy and water compliance group Genex, fire detection and compliance technology experts Drax 360 and security company APS.

This expansion is part of our ‘buy and build’ strategy, which will see us broadening our geographical coverage, adding service capability and expanding our services in the compliance sector.

Obsequio Group CEO Simon Abley said: “What an achievement for us to be recognised as one of the fastest growing founder-led businesses in the UK. I’m really proud of the great work our teams do to make this happen. The awards are aimed at celebrating what its organisers call the ‘dare to doers.’ It is the hard work, dedication, expertise and passion of our 180 colleagues which is responsible for this amazing recognition. We couldn’t have done it without every single member of our incredible team.”

Before founding the Obsequio Group, Simons Abley and Simon Cashmore were the movers and shakers behind outdoor services specialist TCL Group, growing the business 14-fold over 12 years.

The pair are no strangers to national and international awards, with the TCL Group having been named one of the 1,000 Companies to Inspire Europe in 2017 by the London Stock Exchange.