Member Article

Strong year sparks recruitment plans for Durham-based electrical contractor

Durham-based Retroflo, an industrial, commercial and domestic electrical contractor, is entering its third year as a commercial entity with recruitment plans, on the back of strong turnover.

The company spent its first five years of business investing heavily in R&D from 2007 – 2012 before commercialising its patented pump control system in 2013. Since then, the company has grown from an initial £60k turnover in year 1, to a £1.7m turnover in years 2 - 3.

Set up by company directors Andy Laundon and Lee Bishton, Retroflo has employed 29 members of staff since its launch in 2013, including 4 apprentices, and has plans in place to employ a further 11 staff members by this time next year.

Retroflo hit its first major landmark within a few weeks of establishment by being accepted onto the framework for Sunderland City Council, this success quickly escalated as the company started working for major firms such as Northumbrian Water, Persimmon Homes, Lumsden and Carroll and Seymour Civil Engineering

In addition, several extensions have already been made to the company’s existing offices to cater for the rapidly expanding workforce and a move to larger, more accommodating premises will soon be needed, though the company will stay true to its North East roots and will remain in the local area.

Andy Laundon, Operations Director, said: “Giving back to the community is immensely important to us, it’s great to see us making a direct difference by providing local jobs in the village and helping out with the local community centre and sports clubs. We are passionate about supporting the local economy where possible”

“Lee and I had worked in the industry for a number of years before setting up Retroflo so we had a lot of existing relationships which assisted with the initial launch of the business.

“From then on it’s been hard work and determination to get to where we are today. When we gain a customer – they stay with us and that’s down to being honest and doing what we’ll say we do. “

Based in South Hetton Industrial Estate, Retroflo offer end-to-end MEICA (mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control and automation) services including electrical project consultancy, design, implementation, commissioning, maintenance and optimisation.