31-year-old Leeds entrepreneur Jordan Woods is thrilled to have sold the company he grew from scratch, after transforming it into a £1.5 million-revenue business.
Struggling to support a young family, Jordan launched Woods Building Maintenance back in August 2011 after being made redundant. From a single plumbing job in Harrogate that made him a profit of £13, within 7 years he employed 35 people and, since merging with B38, he’s looking to recruit another 15-20 gas engineers, plumbers and electricians. He said he wouldn’t have made it without the help and opportunities he received as a teenager.
“I left school at 13 and joined a Work-based Learning programme in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC). I persuaded Daniel Robinson, a Director at Industrial & Commercial Heating in Leeds, to let me work for free for a number of years before they gave me an apprenticeship at 16. I want to thank him for giving me that opportunity. Without it, I would never have got into the industry, it just wouldn’t have been a possibility.”
He puts the company’s rapid growth down to the JobWatch management system BigChange technology which allowed him to plan, track and manage operations.
“I was one of the first to implement this new technology and it made a huge difference. We started to grow by 30-40% year on year.”
Jordan also thanks Leeds entrepreneur Martin Port, the man behind BigChange, one of the UK’s fast-growing technology businesses, who mentored him throughout the process.
Martin Port, CEO of BigChange Ltd, said:
“Jordan Woods of Woods Building Maintenance was one of my first customers at BigChange, that’s how I got to know him. I personally witnessed the fast growth of his property maintenance business and realized the intensity, passion and drive that he has for providing the best quality service to all of his clients. I have spent many hours with Jordan discussing business in general and offering advice on how he could further enhance his business and make the right strategic moves. I was delighted to hear that Jordan has joined forces with another one of our esteemed customers B38 to become an organization that can offer an even more comprehensive service to their customers all over the UK. I wish Jordan every success in the future.”
Meanwhile, Jordan says he is very pleased to have sold his business to contracting and facilities services provider B38. They were one of his customers and their business ethics clicked. The name ‘Woods Building Maintenance’ is staying and Jordan himself has moved across as Head of Operations.
“I also want to reassure our customers and suppliers that business is continuing as usual. Their support over the years has been the reason we’ve seen such success. Nothing has really changed and, as Head of Operations, I am still the driving force behind Woods.”
B38 Group co-founder Richard Phillips said:
“Acquiring the Woods business furthers our already strong foothold in the Yorkshire region and gives us the ability to offer clients a higher degree of self-delivery and thus a higher level of service.”
For more information about Woods Building Maintenance and B38 Group visit www.b38group.com.