John Rowan & Partners is on track for a 25% rise in turnover this year following a string of key contract wins. The firm has scooped an important role with Tesco while also expanding its housing business.

JRP is due to hit around £4.5m in revenue for the financial year ending April 2007, up from £3.8m for the previous year. Stephen Gee, managing partner, said the pace of growth was close to exceeding his plans and was allowing the company to be more choosy about which contracts it takes on.

JRP has had recent successes in a number of sectors. In retail, Tesco has appointed the firm to oversee the nationwide roll out of in-store campaigns based on signs and shelving. JRP has been tasked with drawing up a system to implement one campaign centred on chilled foods with the minimum disruption to trading and the maximum consistency across around 400 stores. If successful the system will then be used for further campaigns on an on-going basis.

In housing and regeneration JRP is launching a dedicated housing business. The firm plans to separate out its existing 15-strong ALMO (arms length management organisation) team and add a further five staff to it – two quantity surveyors and three project managers. The new division, which has yet to be named, follows JRP making a name for itself in the ALMO sector. The firm advises the exemplar ALMO Hounslow Homes, which has completed its decent homes programme. JRP is also advising Homes for Islington, Haringey ALMO, Ealing Homes and Brent Housing Partnership.

In the hotels sector JRP is working on a scheme to revamp St Andrew’s Bay Hotel, overlooking the famous Scottish golf course. Client Fairmont has appointed JRP as QS, PM and fixtures, fittings and equipment consultant on the scheme, which could be worth between £5m and £13m. Fairmont is also using JRP on its £85m refurbishment of London’s Savoy.

Gee was promoted to managing partner in July 2006 after founder John Rowan retired due to ill health. Rowan died in August of a brain haemorrhage.

Source

QS News