South West engineering consultancy SDS plans extra success after report £6m turnover
A South West engineering firm achieved record sales of £ 5.64 million and continues to expand after cracking the healthcare market.
Service Design Solution Ltd (SDS), headquartered in Plymouth, has just opened an office in Cardiff and is looking for further contracts in the medical sector after successful work on the Nightingale Hybrid Facility in Exeter during the Covid pandemic.
The 116-bed hospital is the only Nightingale facility to stay open permanently after the height of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK.
Building stories from the southwest
Specializing in mechanical and electrical engineering, SDS is headquartered in Millfields, Stonehouse, with offices in Exeter and Bristol, and opened in the Welsh capital in September 2021.
“We have hired two people to run the Cardiff office,” said Shaun Hoppins, SDS general manager. “Hopefully there will be job opportunities in this region.”
Overall, the workforce at SDS increased to 65 in 2021, hired 18 additional employees, including two trainees, and plans to hire up to eight new employees each year.
The company had its best trading year in terms of sales and profits in 2021, with sales up a staggering 397% over what was achieved in 2011/12 and 31% over 2020 numbers.
The award-winning consulting company, founded in 2004, is now focusing on further growth and sees the successful collaboration with the NHS on the Nightingale project as the way to more work in the health sector.
The company was specifically chosen to design and work on the mechanical and electrical systems for the Exeter building in the shortest possible time, with Mr. Hoppins calling it “hands on the pumps”.
Service Design Solution Plymouth team members discuss a project with Managing Director Shaun Hoppins, third from left
(Image: Trevor Burrows)
But it led to projects in hospitals in Plymouth, Truro, Torbay and Taunton, and SDS has now been appointed for another in Southampton.
It also addresses new streams of defense work, which Director Adrian Montague specializes in, as well as infrastructure sectors. My goal is 15% annual growth but we need to move into new regions as we are saturated in Plymouth.
“We’re also looking at new markets, in defense, water treatment, rail, and healthcare. We now have a pedigree in healthcare and much of our growth has come from that sector. We made a slow transition into healthcare for over five years and when we ran the Nightingale project we were recognized as health professionals. “
Hoppins said the move to new geographic and industry-specific areas should maintain the growth that has been achieved so far and also “give our engineers the opportunity to advance technically”. He said, “Some of these markets are more technical.”
High profile developments in Plymouth that SDS has been involved in include the huge expansion of BD (Becton Dickinson) factory and block of flats projects at Mount Wise and Sugar Quay. It worked among other projects in the education sector at Scott Medical and Healthcare College and for the University of Plymouth and Babcock International Plc.
The company’s track record has resulted in it winning several top awards. SDS was named Consultancy of the Year 2021 by South West Business Insider and received Best UK Consultancy (small and medium) from the Association of Consultancy and Engineering Awards.
It was also named SME of the Year at the Construction Excellence South West Awards and will now compete for the national trophy. SDS was also shortlisted for the National Building Awards for Best Engineering Consultancy and the PlymouthLive Business Awards in the SMB Company of the Year category.
But as much as SDS is passionate about its business performance, it also takes pride in the work it does to help the community.
The consulting firm donates 1% of sales to community and charity projects, with 30% of its contributions going to charity in Plymouth.
In 2020, the company became net CO2 neutral by offsetting and minimizing CO2 emissions and introducing a green travel policy. And SDS is now aiming to go carbon negative after advising Plymouth City Council on its climate change plan and launching the delivery of carbon-free homes.
SDS is now offering pro bono services for the new low carbon CobBauge research project for energy efficient homes at the University of Plymouth.
Katherine Archer, Business Support Manager, said SDS is also working with Millfields Inspired, the charity that inspires young people in Stonehouse to seek career paths.
Business Live’s South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has over a decade of experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. It is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
To contact William: Email: [email protected] – Phone: 01752 293116 – Mob: 07584 594052 – Twitter: @WTelfordHerald – LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com – Facebook: www.facebook.com/william. telford.5473
Stay in touch: BusinessLive newsletters have been redesigned to make them even better. We send morning bulletins straight to your inbox on the latest news, views and opinions in the Southwest. Get our breaking news and weekly industry reviews too. Register now – it’s free and only takes a minute. To subscribe to Business Live’s daily newsletters, click here
And visit the Business Live South West LinkedIn page here
“We go to schools and talk about technology,” she says. “It’s about starting the conversation now, not when you get to university.”
She said charities like the South West Children’s Hospice, Hugs from Henry and Shekinah have all been supported by SDS and have supported the Ablaze Bristol and Plymouths The Story Gifters literary campaigns.
“And we also give time,” she said. “For example, collecting rubbish at Royal William Yard and with the Soup Run and Age UK. It’s so diverse, so many different charities. “
Mr. Hoppins added, “We are trying to share our success with the community and create jobs.”
