Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110

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Dutch transfer: Vebego sells Indigo Services to Facilicom

International Group has sold its UK operation - Indigo Services (UK) - to the Facilicom Services Group, effectively transferring ownership from one Dutch family-owned services group to another. In real terms this saw Vebego exit the market, ending its 20 year association - and Facilicom, simultaneously and significantly, increase its share of the UK contract cleaning sector.

After a short period of integration the new combined entity will be re-launched under the Facilicom Cleaning Services brand in the New Year.
The newly enlarged Facilicom operation now boasts a combined turnover in the UK of £30m with over 2500 employees providing what it believes is best-in-class cleaning and security services to a nationwide client portfolio.

Whilst the service delivery element of both UK companies will remain unchanged there will be a restructuring of the senior management team of the new organisation. Jan-Hein Hemke will continue his role as Managing Director, strategically leading the Company forward towards its shared goals; Chris Gilbey - Indigo's Managing Director - assumes overall control of the £24m cleaning portfolio as Director of Cleaning Services; and Phil Smith moves from the same role within Indigo to become Commercial Director for the new combined Cleaning Division.

"These are exciting times and I'm looking forward to delivering a new era of success for Facilicom," says Phil Smith. "As well as our operational strength, underpinned by a focus on exceptional customer service, we have a team of highly experienced sales professionals who are eager to explore a greatly enhanced range of opportunities."

The new organisation will operate from the Facilicom Head Office in Sidcup, with Regional Offices in Westminster, St. Neots in Cambridgeshire and Manchester. With a cleaning client portfolio now stretching from the South Coast of England to the glens of the South Scottish Highlands, and from the Bristol Channel to the peaceful beauty of the north Norfolk coastline, the incorporation of Indigo's business cements Facilicom's position as a true national service provider.

A key component of the new organisation's intentions within this national structure will be to retain its concentration on sector specialisation. Indigo has long been recognised for its focus on high value service into commercial office spaces, the education sector, residential estates management, hi-tech industry and public transport environments.

Similarly, Facilicom has focussed on developing major clients within the food manufacturing and preparation, and commercial property management sectors as well as creating bespoke solutions for key private sector organisations. Commenting on this situation, Chris Gilbey states: "The strengths of both companies will be utilised in the creation of a compelling service offering and we look to the future with confidence, determination and the ability to build upon our past success into the years ahead."

T: 01708 771209
E:[email protected]
www.facilicom.co.uk / www.indigoservices.co.uk

3rd November 2011