Fire detection and life safety systems specialist CDS has made its first foray into offering other compliance streams by acquiring a company which specialises in water and energy consultancy.
Harrogate-based Genex joins the broadening CDS stable this week – and offers specialist services such as legionella control, swimming pool management, closed circuit water analysis and treatment, energy audits and Energy Performance Certificates.
The company, which has worked with business and public sector bodies across the UK for 12 years, shares customers and sector expertise with CDS – enabling the new expanded business to offer a one stop shop to customers needing a variety of compliance services.
The university and student accommodation markets are two areas in which both excel, with CDS seeing a growing number of higher education institutions choosing its expertise in an increasingly complex industry.
Genex MD Carl Cressey will remain in post, ensuring continuation of his valuable expertise to the existing client base and offering support to CDS customers wanting to add water and energy to their compliance portfolio,
CDS chairman Simon Cashmore said: “We’re delighted to have added another string to the CDS bow. Our buy and build strategy has thus far seen us acquire other fire safety companies in different areas of the UK to enable us to expand our geographical reach.
“Our investment into Genex is our first step into broadening the compliance streams we offer. We aim to make it easier for facilities managers who need to purchase compliance consultancy in a variety of disciplines. Instead of sourcing fire safety from one company, water quality from another and so on, they can use one expert organisation to provide a number of services.”
Genex MD Carl Cressey added: “It’s very exciting to be joining the burgeoning CDS business. We share so many customers across similar sectors and between us have so much we can offer.”
The latest acquisition follows the purchase earlier this year of Monmouthshire-based Tann Synchronome and Powerpoint Fire Systems (Powerpoint) in Middlesex.
Simon Cashmore and CDS managing director Simon Abley, who acquired CDS last year, were the team behind outdoor services specialist TCL Group. They grew the business 14-fold over 12 years before selling it in 2019. Its expansion was achieved in a similar way – through strategic acquisition of complementary companies to broaden both its geographical reach and service offerings. TCL was named one of the 1,000 Companies to Inspire Europe in 2017 by the London Stock Exchange.
- CDS chairman Simon Cashmore and MD Simon Abley welcome Genex MD Carl Cressey, John Blears and their company to the CDS fold. The acquisition means CDS can now offer water and energy compliance services as well as fire detection and life safety systems expertise.
