Strachan and Kemp

It’s a welcome sign when a young business outgrows its premises long before it expected to.  Commercial property contractors, Strachan and Kemp, found themselves in this position just 3 years into a 10 years lease, with nowhere suitable to go near their former home in Barrhead.

Luckily, they were able to identify two, brand new, light industrial units at Langlands in East Kilbride, sourced through agents, Knight Property.

South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) then stepped in with a grant and the knowhow to help the company develop its internal office and warehouse space. SLC also helped them design appropriate vehicle livery and update their technology

Strachan and Kemp’s founder and MD, Steven Smernicki says, “The quality of the units was perfect for our largely corporate clients. We also liked that this is a dedicated commercial site, apart from residential areas. The grant funding from SLC was a game-changer too, as it allowed us to fast-track developments which might otherwise have taken a couple more years”.

Of East Kilbride, Steven adds, “The location is ideal. The road network gives easy access to all Scotland’s major cities and has definitely facilitated our recent expansion into Northern England”

Steven says this ability to service clients from a central location is pivotal and has allowed him to grow the business to a point where he now employs up to 60 people plus 60 sub-contractors at any given time.

The team at South Lanarkshire Council continues to support the growing company by facilitating connections and supplying grant-funded consultancy services.

Steven says, “The HR help provided was invaluable for a growing business; so much so that we decided to retain the consultants, AAB People, who have continued to be instrumental in our growth. Introductions through the Council team have also won us new clients and partners.”

The next phase for Strachan and Kemp is to develop a new website, with a focus on strategy and growth. Resources from the South Lanarkshire Inward Investment team remain beside them all the way.

With undiminished energy, Steven is currently applying for a second round of grants to support forecast expansion and he describes the company‘s journey so far as, “Phenomenal. Amazing.”

Strachan and Kemp provides a complete contractor solution for commercial property clients, including maintenance, refurbishment, dilapidations, cleaning, ground maintenance, waste services and on-call emergency repairs