Smithers Purslow celebrates 40th business anniversary with £40k fundraiser

Glaston-based consulting engineers and surveyors, Smithers Purslow, is celebrating 40 years in business in May and to mark the milestone the firm plans to raise over £40,000 for national and local charities.

Fundraising events include: a Three Peaks Yacht Race challenge, where a team of five will sail from Barmouth to Fort William and run to the summits of Snowden, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis, an online art auction displaying 40 pieces of work, a German-themed Oktoberfest at Uppingham School and a golf day.

Nationally, the main beneficiaries will be the Rainbow Trust children’s charity and the Make A Wish Foundation, locally the Evergreen Care Trust and many others nominated by staff.

Smithers Purslow employs 50 people, working from its head office at Glaston Hall and premises in London, Reading, Exeter and Newcastle. In 2016, the firm was the first in the professional services sector to be given Platinum Investors in People status and, at the time, was one of only 16 businesses to achieve this accolade worldwide.

Alongside engineering and surveying, Smithers Purslow offers buildings insurance, architectural and planning services and has public and private sector clients in the insurance, property and construction industries, working with estate/property owners and managers, large corporations, developers and high-net worth individuals.

When the business was founded in May 1978, Norman Smithers and Graham Purslow rented a small office in High Street, Oakham, employing an administration assistant and a draughtsman. Norman, who is 80 this year, reflected on the company’s growth, saying to directors: “I feel very proud of what you have done here.”

Director, Andrew Bussey, comments: “A key factor to our ongoing success is that we have this chameleon-like ability to evolve and provide differing services that meet the needs of an ever-growing client base. People however, are the backbone of a business, and as is evidenced by our Investor in People award, we support and reward them. Great things in business are never delivered by just one person; they are achieved by a dedicated team of people.”

To support Smithers Purslow’s fundraising campaign, visit www.smitherspurslow.com/charity or email: charity@smitherspurslow.com