York construction firm builds towards £11m turnover mark

A York-based construction company is forecasting a 35% increase in annual turnover after reporting a record seventh year in business with a string of contract wins, including the refurbishment of the frontage of the historic Time Ball Buildings on Briggate in Leeds.

Evora Construction expects to reach an £11m turnover by July this year.

Yorkshire-based contracts for 2016 include facade repairs and redecoration works to the historic clock and Old Father Time figure on Briggate for Leeds Marriott Hotel, a new two classroom extension at Kirkburton Primary School in Huddersfield, and the sixth phase of on-going window renewals at Askham Bryan College in York.

The company was formed in the height of the recession in February 2009 by directors Richard Elam and Mark Reynolds.

Evora Construction was initially based in York Eco Business Centre in Clifton Moor, York which is a business community set up to allow start-up and small businesses develop and grow.

The company was based there until June 2015, when it moved to its own office building on George Caley Drive in Clifton Moor.

Richard Elam, Evora Construction director, said: “We are delighted with the way the business has developed over the last seven years and moving into our own office building has given us the strong base to now continue that for many years to come.

“We remain committed to delivering the highest standards for our clients, working closely with our supply chain and investing in training for our site and head office teams.”

The six-strong Evora head office team in York includes two members currently on part-time training programmes.

The business has experienced controlled growth year on year through multiple repeat commissions for projects. Last year, the team completed an historic project to create the new living heritage museum in England’s oldest living convent, The Bar Convent in York.

Evora operates mainly in the Yorkshire region in the education, commercial, retail and residential conversion sectors, although a small proportion of its turnover comes from work outside the region.

Recent projects include building a new head office and manufacturing base for the UK operation of Supply Point Systems in Rugby and the conversion of former office buildings into an exclusive residential development in Harpenden, Hertfordshire for Gade Group.