Ball & Berry records triple-digit growth through lockdown

Preston-based approved inspector Ball & Berry has achieved triple digit growth in the last six months following a surge in investment from homeowners wanting to improve their properties.

When the coronavirus lockdown initially began, Ball & Berry was forced to furlough staff, but now the company is operating at full capacity and looking to recruit additional staff.

The company has accepted more than 250 new instructions each month since July. This is largely the result of government incentives which enabled the construction industry to continue operations, combined with consumers unlocking additional capital through restrictions on travel and socialising.

Paul McNeill, director for Ball & Berry, said: "Like so many other businesses in the sector, the start of the lockdown brought so much uncertainty about what could and couldn’t safely take place in order to keep construction an active industry. We had to make difficult decisions, but we did so with the hope that the market would return to its previous levels of buoyancy, if not stronger, which would enable us to achieve some element of growth.

"What few people anticipated was the huge swathe of investment homeowners would make into renovating, altering and extending their properties. Following weeks sat indoors, many considered two options – either move to a new house completely or put the money saved from a sudden lack of commuting, eating and drinking out and taking holidays abroad back into their house to improve their living conditions.

"Even though Covid-19 has taught us that anything can change overnight, we’ve also learnt how to adapt quickly. We’ve found new ways of working using technological and video platforms which have enabled us to pass on efficiencies to clients in both our domestic and commercial developments, which has been very well received. Additionally, we’ve been able to continue training our team of experts and others in our supply chain using online CPDs.

"Though we hoped we would emerge from the pandemic in a financially viable position, no-one anticipated we would actually have been able to grow our operations. As work continues to come in, we will be on the lookout for the industry’s best talent to join our team so we can carry on delivering the leading levels of service we’re so proud to offer our customers."

• For further Lancashire business news, advice and analysis subscribe to Lancashire Business View or join the LBV Hub from just £2.50 per month. Click here to subscribe now.