Rosser & Russell Ltd, the Hammersmith-based building services division of Compass Group Plc, announced yesterday that it has created a Systems Technology Division to complement its existing mechanical, electrical, service and maintenance divisions, with the aim of providing potential customers with a one stop shopping facility. The company claims that the technology division has been created to meet changing market requirements broadly speaking, the growing demand for the erection of new intelligent buildings created by the massive devolution of computing power amongst employees – and that the integration of the new division will expand the company’s existing range of heating, ventilation, sanitary, electrical and security services to encompass system design, integration and support, project and cable management, and information technology consultancy. The company will not, however, act as distributor for a particular company’s product line – a decision which, it claims, will ensure that consultancy services are entirely unbiased and based solely on satisfying customer needs. Keen to stifle doubts that without a heavy-weight high-tech partner, its expertise will not come up to scratch, a team of eight new recruits, gleaned predominantly from IBM and Plessey, will head the new division, with back-up support generated by extensive re-training of the 150-strong electrical division, currently being carried out on internal projects. The imminent signing of two major contracts – as yet unspecified – may well help the company to acheieve its short term target of 10% to 15% turnover growth in the coming year: long-term the company aims for a 30% to 40% turnover growth within the next three years. Last year, Rosser & Russell reported pre-tax profits of UKP1.4m.
