News
HSL Compliance enters fire safety market with third acquisition in 12 months
20 Jun 2024
West Midlands-based HSL Compliance has acquired Lancashire-based fire and air compliance specialist RJ Urmson Group.
The move will allow HSL Compliance to offer fire and air ventilation safety and compliance services for first time, complementing the business’ existing market-leading water safety offering.
The transaction is HSL Compliance’s third acquisition in 12 months, after it acquired Northern Ireland-based water safety company Chemical Treatment Services in August 2023 and remote monitoring business Plexus Innovation in January 2024, and takes the company’s headcount to more than 550.
HSL Compliance is a leading player in the UK’s compliance market, helping customers to comply with relevant legislation and create safe environments for people to live and work.
RJ Urmson Group was founded in 1992 by Robert and Louise Urmson. It provides passive fire, ventilation validation, ventilation commissioning and water treatment services to clients across the UK from its headquarters in Chorley, Lancashire.
Robert Urmson, Managing Director of RJ Urmson, said: “We’re a family-run business that has worked with many of our clients for more than 30 years, so its brilliant to start this next chapter of growth as a part of HSL Compliance, a business that shares our ambition and values. Our combined capabilities will allow us to deepen our offering and provide new opportunities to our committed staff.”
Following the acquisition, Robert, alongside his daughter Christina Urmson, will continue to lead the running of RJ Urmson Group and the company will continue to operate under its existing branding.
Gavin Hartley, Chief Executive of HSL Compliance, added: “Rob and the team have built a market-leading operation with services that complement our own. Many of our existing clients, particularly in the healthcare sector, have air ventilation and fire safety compliance requirements.
Being able to provide these services, in addition to our market-leading water safety offering, is a great step forward and will support our mission to be the number one health and safety compliance provider in the UK.
The deal team at HSL Compliance was led by Tom Taylor and Gavin Hartley with external financial due diligence support from Ross Wiggins of Menzies (London), and legal support from Arpinder Dhillon of Harrison Clark Rickerby (Ross-on-Wye).
R J Urmson Group was advised by Jon Else, Lewis Pearson and Ben Fallows of DTE Corporate Finance with legal support by provided by Simon Wallwork and Mark Warburton of Slater Heelis (Manchester).
