Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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GBM Scotland expands to £10m with acquisition of Eclipse Contract Cleaning
GBM, the business support services group, has bought Eclipse Contract Cleaning to further strengthen its business in Scotland; the acquisition, will take GBM Scotland's annual revenue to around £10m.
As an established contract cleaning company, Eclipse provides a wide range of contract cleaning services to clients across Scotland. As such, there is considerable synergy with GBM, since both companies provide comprehensive cleaning services (including waste management) to large and small organisations in many sectors. They have also worked together to provide an integrated service for joint clients; GBM's security services working alongside Eclipse's contract cleaning operations.
As a result of the acquisition, GBM will gain additional clients and have greater access to the property management market, where Eclipse has a particular expertise. GBM will also inherit a highly skilled and experienced workforce, many of whom have been with Eclipse since its earliest days.
Eclipse was founded in 1990 by Brian and Linda Murphy to provide an outstanding cleaning service to businesses in the Glasgow area. Over the years, the business added new, complementary services and now employs more than 400 people in Scotland and its clients include blue-chip retailers, several shopping centres and many professional services organisations.
GBM director, John McPherson sees the acquisition as highly beneficial: "It's a win-win for both businesses" he comments. "Whilst our service offerings are very complementary, both companies have been built on similar values. We're both passionate about providing outstanding service, going the extra mile and working hard to be part our clients' long-term businesses.
"With this acquisition, we'll be in a great position to take the business forward and expand further. We'll have access to new clients and can offer additional and more specialist services. We'll also have a ready-made team of experienced, dedicated people who will be joining us from Eclipse. I'm very optimistic about the future and very much looking forward to leading the newly enlarged GBM and Eclipse teams."
Brian Murphy, Eclipse's managing director is equally positive about the acquisition. "There is a natural fit between the two businesses" he suggests. "We have a very similar vision about how we do business and we wanted to find a partner who would keep our values alive whilst moving forward and expanding the business further. I'm confident that combined business will be extremely successful and I'm looking forward to watching it go from strength to strength."
GBM's CEO, David Ford also believes that shared values will ensure the success of the acquisition: "Customer service and great staff relationships are integral to the success of both businesses," he says. "This, coupled with our complementary service offerings, made the acquisition a natural fit. I'm delighted with the outcome and look forward to seeing the business expand throughout Scotland."
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3rd July 2014