North West’s High Access to expand in London and Birmingham with £3.3m investment

A provider of high-level maintenance and cleaning services based in Manchester has secured a seven-figure boost through equity investor Business Growth Fund (BGF).

High Access Maintenance will use the £3.3m investment to drive it UK-wide growth strategy and expand its teams in Birmingham and London.

The London growth, in particular, will come in response to the capital’s increasingly broad property development pipeline, which encompasses 436 structures of 20 storeys or more according to thinktank New London Architecture.

Established in 2005 by its chief executive, Niel Bethell, the company carries out at-height work for property management firms such as Savills, Allied London and CBRE.

Today, High Access generates a £5m turnover through its planned project and reactive services, which includes gutter, roof and lighting maintenance as well as high-level glazing, coating and cleaning services.

As part of the deal Stuart Lees, the founder of Signia Corporate Finance and former MD of Altium Capital, has joined High Access in the role of non-executive chairman.

Niel Bethell commented: “Having built a strong customer base and a fantastic in-house team through our focus on safety, scope of work and responsiveness, now is the right time to accelerate our growth plans.

“We are well placed to take advantage of the market opportunities, and BGF’s investment allows us to put our strategy into immediate action.”

BGF’s Neil Inskip, who has also joined the High Access board, said: “High Access is a quality business run by an ambitious management team.

“Over the past five years, we have seen more and more of North West businesses come to the fore with the confidence to pursue their growth strategy.”

He added: “That’s a positive development, and I believe a good prognosis for region’s business community.”

Andrew Millar, Chris Marshall and Dan Finn of law firm Brabners advised BGF on the deal, while Jamie Lloyd of Nexus Solicitors advised High Access.