The contractor, which delivers civil engineering, road surfacing and plant hire services in Scotland, has purchased its base at 1071 South Street in Glasgow, where it had previously been a tenant for a couple of years. 

The move arrives following major growth for the business. Since 2018, when managing director Thomas Crumlish took over the firm from the McGeady family, annual turnover has gone up from roughly £900,000 to over £20 million in its latest accounts. 

Revenues are projected to hit roughly £30 million in 2026. 

The growth has been accelerated by investment in the firm’s workforce and capabilities, helping it to widen the services it delivers and eye bigger contracts.

Projects three to five years ago were normally valued at roughly £150,000; the business can now pursue individual contracts of up to £4 million.

The company has new recruits in the pipeline and is aiming for a headcount of roughly 100 over the course of the next three to five years, while also looking to grow the amount of apprenticeship opportunities it provides. 

The firm is considering the prospect of more investment at the site, such as expanding its office space and developing a training centre.

The proposed training centre could be used to foster skills within the firm’s workforce, as well as providing training to people outside the firm. 

The 4.3-acre yard also provides a home for the firm’s fleet, which now consists of roughly 56 pieces of plant and equipment supporting its civil engineering, road surfacing and plant hire operations.

The firm was established in 1982 by John McGeady. McGeady brought members of his family into the firm as it developed and served as director until 2010.

In 2018, the business was acquired by the Crumlish family, but maintained the John McGeady name, with the two families continuing to work with each other.

The contractor has recently been awarded a number of major projects and frameworks in Scotland, such as a £30 million Roads-Related Maintenance Works Framework for Renfrewshire Council and a £2 million Patching Framework for Glasgow City Council.

Tom Crumlish, managing director at John McGeady Ltd, said: “We’ve grown significantly over the past few years, but the ambition has always been to build the business without losing the family values and close-knit culture that have helped us get this far.

“Buying the South Street site gives us the confidence to think longer term.”

Crumlish added: “It gives us more control over how we develop the business and creates the space to invest in our people and future opportunities.”

Stephen Owens, senior relationship director at Bank of Scotland, said: “John McGeady Ltd has built impressive momentum in recent years, growing its workforce and capabilities while moving into increasingly significant projects.

“Securing ownership of its Glasgow headquarters gives the business a strong platform from which to continue that growth.”

Owens added: “We’re pleased to support Thomas and the team as they invest in the next stage of the company’s development.”