A decade of success!

‘11 years on, yet it seems like yesterday’

It was great last week to see so many friends and clients old and new at Black & White’s anniversary celebration on the 5 July. Black & White remain a company proud of its tradition and staff focus, a true people business valued by clients and respected by competitors and the industry in general.

Things have changed a lot in the last decade, however many things remain the same. The continued staff loyalty and commitment remains at the core of our continued success, it is loyalty that has enabled us to grow from for 4 staff without an office to almost 150 staff across 7 offices. Back in 2008 we were entrusted by a client to design the MEP for a 330m tall mixed use tower, the same client appointed us last month on a remarkably similar scale project.

I have so many fond memories, one worth sharing with you all, I recall our 2008 Christmas party fondly, 12 staff genuinely having an enjoyable time, ski Dubai followed by dinner. Most satisfying of all is that 10 of the team remain with us today.

From inception of the business strong team relationships and a culture to exceed expectations was established. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved as team, the awards and accolades have continued to flow since our first acknowledgement in 2008, Finalist for MEP Middle East Consultant of the year. Since 2010 our staff have dominated the personal awards supporting our claim that we are a people business that employ the best talent in the industry.

It’s been a tremendously exciting journey thus far, yet the coming 10 years promise to offer greater opportunity. At our recent leadership gathering all directors signed up for the next decade to collectively take the company to the next level. 2018 is another step towards our target of 15 offices managed, directed and owned by the employees across 4 continents, working as one team with a shared ethos and delivery.

There are so many things to celebrate, we have 20% shareholding employees, we have just signed up the first two recruits to our Student Sponsorship programme, in Manila. The UK practice continues to expand and we have our UK 10 year celebration and London Office launch in September.

Mick Cairns

CEO