Nicholls Colton Group - An emerging force in the Leicestershire business community
14 July 2011

These are difficult times in the construction industry, but that has not stopped the Nicholls Colton Group from launching the fourth arm of their ever-expanding civil engineering organisation - Nicholls Colton Structural.

This latest expansion to the group is further evidence of the Leicester-based firm's desire to establish themselves not only in the East Midlands but in the UK and beyond.

Their ascent to becoming a pivotal competitor in the UK construction industry has been a carefully planned and strategic process, including a successful management buyout in 2005 by the current Managing Directors, Ian Elliot and Alex Warwick, both of whom have worked for the firm for more than 20 years.

Despite the economic climate, Alex and Ian have successfully increased the Group's scope of services, with the addition of the only contaminated land testing laboratory in the East Midlands in 2007, and a structural engineering consultancy in late 2010.

These services, together with the existing geotechnical and contaminated land consultancy, and bridge and highway investigation and testing arms of the business, allow the Nicholls Colton Group to offer a unique spectrum of specialist services to the construction industry. The firm's ability to deliver such a multitude of expertise has been welcomed by both new and existing clients alike.

For 25 years, the Nicholls Colton Group has maintained UKAS accreditation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Services for site and laboratory testing, and in 2007 the company added the coveted contaminated land testing 'MCERTS' accreditation from the Environment Agency for the laboratory. The Group's impressive quality credentials even include employing a Registered SiLC (Specialist in Land Condition), of which there are only a very few in the UK.

The rebrand underlines the commitment of both Managing Directors to invest in their business during a period where many businesses are looking to cut back on marketing and communications spend.

The company's scope of activities includes ground investigation, foundation and structural design, testing of soils, water, concrete, aggregates and tar, and investigation of existing structures, earthworks and roads. They are also able to advise on land contamination, waste disposal issues, and remediation solutions.

Over the next three years Ian and Alex will continue to grow the Nicholls Colton Group, with further investment to enhance the already broad scope of services. This will focus on the monitoring and testing of soils, water and gases for Land Regeneration projects such as the inner city redevelopment of their hometown of Leicester.

With an ever increasing emphasis being put on the environment, the company is developing solutions to allow a sustainable approach to be taken for construction maintenance and redevelopment projects.

Alex and Ian are remarkably active outside work. Ian is a playing member of the Leicester Water Polo Club and he is also the Coach to the highly successful Leicester Men and Coventry Ladies Water Polo teams. These teams include his son and daughter, both of whom also play for the Great Britain team.

Alex is the drummer for an international Genesis Tribute band, and a local blues/rock band. His acclaimed YouTube drum videos have been watched over one million times. At a recent local charity event, he donned a Gorilla suit and re-enacted the famous Cadbury's advert during Ratcliffe College's Spring Fair, where his spectacular drum show helped to raise £7000 in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association.