Golden day for Coleman & Company

On October 16 UK contractor Coleman & Company celebrated 50 years of demolition activity, with the company now into its third generation of family control with Mark Coleman as managing director. The company was founded in Stetchford, UK, by John and Norah Coleman in 1962, with son David taking over control following the death of John in 1984. David was in turn succeeded as managing director by his son Mark in 2011, but remains group chairman of the company, which is now based out of Great Barr in Birmingham, to where it moved in 2006.

The company currently employs 158 fulltime staff working on projects across the UK. Its Great Barr HQ is a purpose-built, six-acre site including the UK's first urban quarry with a specialist washing plant capable of turning 150,000 tonnes of waste material into recycled sand and gravel each year. This year a further £1.9 million (US$3 million) has been invested in new plant and equipment, including the formation of a new diamond cutting company.

The firm has completed a string of high-profile projects in recent years including the deconstruction and demolition of Dunston Rocket in Gateshead and sensitive demolition work at Birmingham New Street Station, for which it was awarded World Demolition Contract of the Year in 2011.

Managing director Mark said of the anniversary: "This milestone is a remarkable achievement for any family business and we are extremely proud to not only to celebrate 50 years in business, but to celebrate it with continued success."

"Revenues have gone up and down in recent years as you would expect with the continued economic uncertainty but our profit performance remains healthy and last year's margin was our best yet. Some sectors in the construction industry are struggling but others, such as utilities and industrial, are presenting real opportunities and we are well placed to deliver them."