Obsequio Group adds asbestos compliance capabilities with the acquisition of Environtec Ltd.

Obsequio Group has added asbestos compliance capabilities to its services, with the acquisition this week of UKAS-accredited Environtec Ltd.

As well as opening up an important new compliance stream for existing clients, the purchase will enable Obsequio to offer its one-stop-shop portfolio of compliance services to Environtec’s extensive national client list.

It will also further expand the group’s geographical reach, with the addition of its first office in Scotland.

The acquisition will add further weight to Obsequio Group’s growing reputation as the first port of call for compliance services for many of the UK’s largest public sector bodies, NHS trusts, universities, housing associations, blue chip companies, facilities management specialists and industrial organisations.

One of the UK’s best-known specialists in asbestos compliance and water hygiene, Environtec is a UKAS-accredited Inspection Body and Testing Laboratory, a member of the United Kingdom Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) and an affiliate member of the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS).

Its asbestos services, which include asbestos surveys and management, operate in accordance with the strict ISO 9001 quality management system.

Environtec is headquartered in Chelmsford, Essex, and its 215 colleagues operate from five locations across England, Scotland and Wales, with other offices in Mansfield, Newcastle, Newport in Wales and Hamilton in Scotland.

Three of Environtec’s existing shareholders – Paul Shaw, Dan McGuire, and Ricci Price – will remain with the business, offering their expertise to help grow the operation, with a fourth, Matthew Dennis, stepping down and heading off on new adventures.

Obsequio group M&A director Philip Sarthou said: “We’re delighted that Environtec has chosen to join the growing Obsequio family. As well as sharing the same vision and ethos as the wider group, its addition to our stable will add new compliance capabilities to the business and build on our expanding water hygiene expertise.

“It enables us to offer a cost-effective, high-quality and timesaving one-stop-shop for fire, security, water, energy, air quality, asbestos, environmental compliance and electrical safety to a broader client base.

“It also provides us with UKAS accreditation and builds on our existing strong customer service reputation.

Obsequio group chairman Simon Cashmore added: “This acquisition is the latest step in our committed buy-and-build strategy to widen our geographical reach, expand the range of sectors we support and increase the number of compliance services we offer.”

Environtec managing director Paul Shaw commented: “We are thrilled to be joining the growing Obsequio Group, which shares our approach and values. We look forward to offering our expertise to its many public and private sector clients, while enabling our existing clientele to benefit from the compliance services offered by the wider group.”

The deal was made possible through European financing specialist Kartesia. which, in partnership with Beech Tree Private Equity, provides additional clout to the group’s buy-and-build mission.

Beech Tree Private Equity director Ben Cartwright said: “The addition of Environtec is the latest chapter in helping Obsequio achieve its aim to be the leading multi-disciplinary compliance services provider in the UK. We plan to add further complementary services to the Group over the coming months.”