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Celebrating its 35th anniversary as a brand next year, Cormac was formed during the era of compulsory competitive tendering in the 1990s, originally established as a direct labour organisation of Cornwall Council with a highways remit. Over time, that role developed to the point where the organisation became an arm’ s length company wholly owned by Cornwall Council in 2012. Thus, this year, marks 14 years since that transition. Across more than three decades, the business has diversified from a highway maintenance direct labour organisation into a multidisciplinary services provider delivering services across the built and natural environment. Still 100 per cent owned by Cornwall Council, Cormac focuses both on delivering against Cornwall’ s priorities while also growing as a commercial entity through the non-council side of the business.
“ We split our business into services and contracting services,” begins Dominic Bostock, Managing Director.“ On the services side, we operate a fully integrated highway management service covering asset management, network management, customer and public interface, as well as the delivery of maintenance and improvement works. Environment is our second service area, where we manage and maintain a large proportion of Cornwall’ s natural environment assets, collaborating closely with communities and local stakeholders to drive maximum community value from those assets. We also run a property maintenance, and facilities management business, and act as landlord to 120 houses used for temporary emergency accommodation. This creates real value against homelessness and supports Cornwall Council’ s housing emergency, declared last year.”
Turnkey solutions
Cormac’ s consultancy service covers technical design and engineering, spanning everything from structural work through to geotechnical expertise, which is particularly valuable in Cornwall given its extensive mining legacy and complex ground geology. Its support services include internal fleet operations, where the organisation owns and manages around 10,000 pieces of plant and equipment, as well as its own internal training service. This in-house training organisation ensures Cormac has the skills it requires today all while developing the workforce of tomorrow. On top of that, the company offers all the support functions expected within an organisation of its size.
“ On the contracting services side, our focus is on infrastructure and civil engineering solutions delivered through a contracting organisation. Construction is a newer part of that offer, one that has grown over the last couple of years and that we hope to grow further. Rather than focusing on large buildings, we specialise in smaller construction, refurbishment and supporting clients in repurposing and improving existing assets. We also operate a recycling and aggregates business, including a quarry and an asphalt plant, which serves both our internal supply chain needs and external customers. Finally, our regional civil engineering business is the vehicle we are using to grow our services beyond Cornwall into Devon and the greater South West. Being able to bring all of these services together to offer a genuine turnkey solution is a key part of what sets us apart and delivering projects in each of these areas is very much what we do day to day,” Dominic notes.
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▲ Dominic Bostock