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07
Jul 2022
Harrogate family firm sold to international company
A family firm formed in Harrogate 20 years ago, which now employs 45 staff, has been sold to a large international company.
Keith Swales founded civil engineering business S&B Utilities in 2002. Based at Kestia House in Lingerfield, near Scotton.
The firm has been acquired by Hargreaves Industrial Services, which is a subsidiary of international land, property and infrastructure development company Hargreaves Services.
The sum has not been disclosed.
Managing director Mr Swales, who is 77, and finance director Karen Cocker will exit the business. All other staff will be retained.
Kestia House
S&B Utilities, which constructs water projects and other civil engineering schemes, is a framework contractor with Yorkshire Water and Severn Trent Water. It also works on military bases.
Locally, its projects have included undertaking structural concrete work for the Esplanade tower block in Harrogate and for the Tower Street car park.
Mr Swales, a civil engineer who worked for Yorkshire Water before setting up the company, said negotiations had taken eight months to complete. He added:
He thanked past and present employees for their help over the last 20 years.
Darren Swales, Will Griffin and Lee Swales will continue as directors of S&B Utilities and will be joined on the board by Sean Hager and John Samuel, who are directors of Hargreaves Industrial Services.
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