Skerritt goes for growth with Horton at helm

Building services installation, maintenance and property care contractor Skerritt has appointed Martyn Horton as chief executive officer.

Horton was until recently managing director at Powerminster Gleeson Services. While there he turned the Sheffield-based company from a loss-making m&e contractor into a major installation and property maintenance contractor securing long-term contracts worth £158m.

He is now bringing his business flair and drive to Nottingham-based Skerritt, which increased its turnover from £28m to over £50m in just two years and which has recently moved its headquarters into modern offices with a £1.6m fit-out.

Outgoing boss Les Frances said: “In 2006, we embarked on a five-year business plan to double turnover and become a successful business with greater capacity to expand into new areas of activity. Our focus is on becoming a nationally-respected company for our ability to deliver consistently high-quality results.

“We recognised that retaining our competitive edge on the scale that we are now operating would depend on having someone at the helm with experience of running big businesses. We found that in Martyn, who also shares the Skerritt ethos and approach.”

Martyn Horton said: “I’m relishing the opportunity to maximise the potential and the opportunities the team have built up over the last few years. For me, that means doing the best by our clients and making sure we have the right structure and team in place to deliver every single time.

“The next 18 months will undoubtedly be a difficult time for the sector and we need to ensure we are operating efficiently and effectively in our chosen markets of m&e installation, maintenance and property care.”

Major recent contracts include work across the country for the Home Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Trinity Square development in Nottingham, Nottingham University’s Biomolecular science building and the North Notts LIFT projects.