Irish construction giant John Sisk completed its acquisition of Bristol-based contractor Bideem today and announced plans to double the firm’s turnover over the next three years
Building revealed in December that Sisk had carried out due diligence for the contractor, which has a turnover of £33m.

Sisk managing director Pierce O’Shea plans to increase Bideem’s turnover to £60m and recruit

40 staff.

O’Shea said the deal would provide significant benefits, including development opportunities and security for Bideem and Sisk staff.

He said: “There has been a gap in the South-west for some time for a medium-sized contractor. Sisk’s experience in the hotel, leisure, industrial, commercial and public sectors on a national and international basis will provide a valuable service.”

O’Shea added that the deal would also create more choice, as well as new, improved and

cost-effective services for joint customers.

The deal includes building, civil engineering, plant, services and rail companies, and will give Sisk an opportunity to enter the facilities management business.

The head of one rival regional contractor in the area said the acquisition could be the first of many medium-sized businesses eating up smaller regional firms in the area.

He said that there is definitely a niche in the South-west and a lot of work to be won in the region. He said: “Sisk buying Bideem could be the start of a new order of just a few medium-sized businesses competing for all the work, as opposed to lots of smaller firms fighting it out.”

The move comes after Sisk considered acquiring a number of contractors in the South-west

and Wales, including Cowlin Construction and Pearce Construction of Bristol, Midas Construction of Kingkerswell near Torquay, and two firms

in Cardiff.

The Bideem group has its headquarters in Avonmouth, Bristol, with regional offices in Caerphilly, Wales, and Theale, Berkshire. John Sisk has bases in Ireland, the UK and a number of African countries. Clients include Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Coca-Cola.