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Thursday, December 04, 2008, 16:00
Dawnus Construction has been named fastest growing private company in Wales.
The company tops the list of companies based in the principality to appear in the latest Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 league table, out today.
Dawnus, which provides civil engineering services, is ranked 79th nationally.
Now in its 12th year, the prestigious annual league table ranks Britain's 100 private companies with the fastest-growing sales over the past three years.
Founder Robert Jones and five colleagues set up Dawnus Construction in 2002.
The Swansea construction and civil engineering firm's projects include a £10 million Asda store in Andover, Hants, the £1.2 billion Coed Darcy urban village in Llandarcy and a prize-winning ecosustainable unit on Skomer Island.
It now employs 401 staff and sales have grown by 61 per cent from £16.4 million in 2004 to £68.8 million in 2007.
When asked about the secret of the company's success, managing director Bob Jones said: "I think we are set up very much as an engineering-led company and we create strong teams.
"We work the length and breadth of the country and have expanded, setting up offices in Bangor and Exeter."
It's the third year the company has been on the list but Mr Jones does not expect to figure next year.
"As we continue to grow and get bigger, it's more and more difficult to stay on the fast growth list," he said.
"When you're a young company, it's easier to double your turnover every year. The bigger you get, the more you expect to slip down the table.
"Our turnover will be nearer £75 million this year, so we doubt we'll be on the list next year."
The economic slowdown has hit the construction industry particularly hard but Mr Jones said Dawnus Construction had firm foundations in place to cope comfortably.
"Our workload is looking pretty healthy, so I think we're just taking the view that we are well-placed to come out of the other side of the economic downturn stronger."
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