Entrepreneur Amit Bhatia, who is chairman of Hope Construction Materials, has told of his optimism for the future as the company celebrates its landmark first anniversary. The company, launched 12 months ago, has gone on to sell two million m³ (enough to build 22 Wembley Stadiums); 1.3 million tonnes of cement and four million tonnes of aggregates in its first year. Hope was launched in January 2013 after the acquisition of 180 UK operational assets, from the south coast of England to the Scottish Hi
Entrepreneur Amit Bhatia, who is chairman of Hope Construction Materials, has told of his optimism for the future as the company celebrates its landmark first anniversary.
The company, launched 12 months ago, has gone on to sell two million m³ (enough to build 22 Wembley Stadiums); 1.3 million tonnes of cement and four million tonnes of aggregates in its first year.
Hope was launched in January 2013 after the acquisition of 180 UK operational assets, from the south coast of England to the Scottish Highlands and from west Wales to East Anglia. These include concrete plants, quarries, depots and the UK’s biggest cement plant in Hope Valley, County Derbyshire, renowned for the quality and consistency of its cement.
The deal was seen by many as a vote of confidence in the future of British construction. Hope has since grown rapidly to become a major player in the industry, supplying cement and concrete to more parts of Great Britain than any other independent business.
In 2013 the company turned over almost £300 million (€361 million), a figure Bhatia believes is testament to the dedication of the 800-strong workforce which ensured that Hope quickly found its feet.
“It was always going to take time to stabilise the business and start to optimise the way we run things, particularly with the scope and size of the business, but we’re pleased with our progress so far,” says Bhatia.
It is claimed that Hope has gained widespread recognition for its dynamic approach and has already released a range of performance products that provide solutions to help to improve speed and efficiency in construction. The company is also about to launch a “new way of working” that will improve customer service, although it is not sharing further detail at the moment.
“When we entered the market a year ago we had our sights set on challenging the accepted norms in this industry. Now we’re making changes to improve service and we will continue to make this a valuable point of difference for our customers.”
“British manufacturing is something I’ve been passionate about for a long time and was keen to get involved in. This year has shown that industry is once again on the rise and it’s a privilege to be part of it. We plan to push on from our solid foundations and continue to build on our standing as the country’s leading independent in the sector,” added Bhatia
Hope Construction Materials CEO Chris Plant says: “We are thrilled to be celebrating a successful first year in business. 2013 was a challenging and exhilarating year, but ultimately one in which we made incredible progress.
“This could not have been achieved without the confidence our customers have put in us, the support from our business partners, and the amazing dedication of my fellow colleagues in Hope Construction Materials.
“At all levels of our business our people demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit, a determination to build trust through reliable service and a desire to keep things straightforward. They bring to life everything that Hope is all about.”
