R & M Electrical named BDO Mid-Market Company of the Year 2016

From left to right, Laura Trant (South Today), William Crook, Managing Director of winning company R&M Electrical Group, Neil Edwards, Managing Director of finalist Dyer & Butler, Simon Escott, Managing Director of finalist Portsmouth Aviation and Malcolm Thixton, Lead Partner BDO Southampton.

R & M Electrical was named BDO Mid-Market Company of the Year at the Southampton firm’s gala dinner last night at the Hilton at the Ageas in Southampton.

Attended by over 150 business leaders and stakeholders, the BDO event, hosted by BBC South Today’s Laura Trant, celebrated the success of the region’s mid-sized companies including R & M Electrical and finalists Dyer & Butler and Portsmouth Aviation.

Over the last 12 months BDO’s Central South Mid-Market focus has again recognised the best of the region’s mid-sized companies, identifying the top performing businesses in international activity and profit growth.

Malcolm Thixton, lead partner at BDO Southampton, comments: “It was a really tough decision this year but we are delighted to name R&M Electrical as the BDO Central South Mid Market Company of the Year. The company has a dynamism and ethos that encourages an entrepreneurial mind-set across the business.” Malcolm Thixton explained. “Their pro-activeness in pursuing new markets is particularly impressive and the strength and depth of the management team will ensure R&M Electrical’s future success.”

The tone of the evening was upbeat, with discussion on continued growth and investment from the three finalists, and insightful commentary from BDO Tax Partner Stuart Lisle, who sits on the firm’s Brexit Task Force. He said, “The UK is open for business. We have been interviewing companies about Brexit; 60% say they are continuing to invest, and 53% expect to maintain growth.”

There was a growing call for businesses to unite across the Central South region from Arbinder Chatwal, Audit Director at BDO and Head of Indian Advisory. “Whilst the UK as a whole agrees its trading position internationally we expect to see far more region to region and city to city links. There has never been a better time for the region to pull together in order to compete on the UK and international stage. I recently talked with 20 companies in India about investing in the UK, and although the Central South ticks every box as far as their needs are concerned, it does not feature in their thinking as a cohesive region. Businesses, local government and LEPs need to work together to get us onto the international map.”