Six 4Front closures herald buying spree

The group has shut down six of its 15 UK satellite offices as it prepares to embark on another round of acquisitions

4Front Group is embarking on an acquisition trail after the company consolidated its UK operation, closing down six of its 15 offices.

Nine people were made redundant and 12 people were relocated after 4Front shut down satellite offices at Horsham, Pontefract, Rugby, Wigan, Greenford and Aylesbury.

The group, which made three acquisitions in four months last year, is consolidating before it begins its acquisition spree. It will buy another three firms, including a European services chain, before the end of the year.

Other acquisition targets include software and training businesses with turnovers of about #20 million to #30 million each.

As part of the reorganisation, 4Front Services has moved to Ruislip after merging its three support arms in Brighton, Greenford and Newbury to form a national call centre. The company is also considering a reorganisation of its sales structure by strengthening its base in London.

Terry Burt, managing director of 4Front Services, said: ?Since buying Compass we have grown from one to 15 offices, so we needed to rationalise and consolidate people into certain areas.

?The 80s model was to have one big operation with satellite offices but we are changing that. We?ve done some major investment but we?ve been adding small pieces so far ? next time it will be a significant acquisition as there is a large opportunity in services.?

According to Burt, the group wants to grow from $85 million turnover to $250 million turnover within the next two years by buying firms which have a turnover of about #20 to #30 million each. 4Front Services wants to be one of the top 10 independent mainten-ance firms.

Last year, 4Front went on a spending spree after it bought storage firm Hammer and services firms Datapro and DCS.