23.01.2017

Xervon offloads Palmers

One of the UK’s oldest scaffolding contractors Xervon Palmers has been acquired by businessman Colin Butt who becomes chief executive.

Butt acquired Palmers from German owner Xervon - part of the global recycling and service group Remondis. Xervon decided to sell the company after the UK voted to leave the European Union as it plans to focus on Benelux, Sweden, Poland, Norway, Austria, Czech Republic and Slovenia. Xervon also has a strong presence in the Middle East and a location in China.

Palmers, which was founded in 1880, will retain its traditional branding with no changes expected among its 300 or so employees under managing director Donald Morrison, supported by Lindsay Harle and Ian McFarlane. The business operates from branches in London, Kent, Bristol, Chester, Middlesbrough and Glasgow.

Butt, 73, has been a consultant for UK scaffolding company NSS since 1980 and operates from an office in Chester. He acquired the full share capital of the business which has been renamed Palmers Scaffolding UK Ltd.
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Colin Butt

Butt said: “We are thrilled to be the proud new owners of such an historic brand as Palmers – who continue to operate at the highest level of Special Access provision, have a highly skilled workforce. They have established excellent, pre-qualified working relationships with some of the country’s leading contractors and we are looking forward to moving the brand forward in 2017 and beyond and working on some of the biggest, most important projects in Britain in coming years.”

Donald Morrison added: “It is very exciting times for the Palmers brand. Quality, health, safety and environmental excellence has been, and will remain, the number one priority in the delivery of our business. For over 130 years, Palmers have provided a quality service to all industries. We know that the highest levels of service and performance in our areas of supply can only be achieved through collective involvement, commitment and teamwork. And with Colin Butt’s vast experience in the Special Access sector, his connections, enthusiasm and entrepreneurial skill set, it can only mean greater success for Palmers in the future.”