Family and community are key to the success of EESI Group Services, who won the highest accolade of Business of the Year at the Gloucestershire Live Business Awards in October 2019.
To get to this point, the firm had experienced the usual ups and downs but chairman Mike Gardiner puts its continued success down to his incredibly loyal workforce. Having won Business of the Year, EESI Group services didn’t feel it was right to enter again but wanted to be involved with the long-standing Gloucestershire Live Business Awards so decided to sponsor the new Business in the Face of Adversity Special Award for 2021.
The Business in the Face of Adversity Special Award will go to a business or individual who went the ‘extra mile’ during the agonising months of lockdown. EESI chairman Mike Gardiner said: “We want to celebrate those who have not only survived Covid-19 but grown from it, by realising it’s time to adapt and make smart decisions.”
Here we remind ourselves of the story behind the success of this growing business at the 2019 awards.
Key business points:
- EESI Group Services was set up by local businessman Mike Gardiner, now retired but still active chairman, with his wife, and his long-standing friend and colleague Derek Jarman, who today is Managing Director.
- A leading building services and facilities management company employing 70 people.
- They have been based in Stonehouse since being founded in 1994.
The winning entry:
For 25 years EESI has been a profitable, sustainable business, retained in the same ownership, supporting local Gloucestershire jobs and with a strong commitment to the local community.
A large proportion of employees have stayed with the company for over one or two decades, some working their way up from apprentices to senior roles. The company has provided over 50 apprenticeships and today have multi-generations of families working for EESI. They also continue to work for customers that started with them on their journey 25 years ago. This is a testament to the culture of the business; focused on the community, family and well-being of employees.
EESI sets itself apart by providing a complete in-house, multi-discipline service, fully qualified and accredited. Its focus has remained on industry in Gloucestershire and it best provides the one-stop solution offered from its Stonehouse base.
Since it’s launch EESI has enjoyed significant but sustainable growth, maintaining profit levels. It remains a priority to reinvest its profits back into the company, providing for expansion and technical improvement. The year of their entry saw a renewal of all server infrastructure and desktop hardware. EESI added a further warehouse unit to its premises and invested in plant for its new department.
In the last five years, EESI Ltd has seen a 40% growth in turnover. It has maintained an average of 10% growth each year, whilst maintaining profit margins.
Nominations for The Gloucestershire Live Business Awards close on Tuesday, June 29. The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, September 16. For more details and to nominate, see the website.
