Our History
Creating history within the construction industry for over 50 years
For more than 50 years, our company has consistently maintained an excellent reputation for reliability, efficiency, high quality, and enviable customer relations. From the humble beginnings of our small Peterborough office in 1971, Princebuild Ltd has expanded its operations to deliver a national, multi-disciplined service.
New Offices Opened in Cambridge and Coventry, New Website Launched and Record Breaking Amount Raised in Support of Ukraine
2024
2024 saw new office locations open within the heart of Cambridge and the Midlands in order to provide growth in strategically targeted geographical locations. A new fresh look website was launched to combine all of the Groups disciplines from across the business and in the community a record breaking amount of £32,000 was raised by the company to provide essential support and aid for Ukraine, with Directors Mark and Dale Asplin joining local group ‘Helping our Ukrainian Friends’ to transport all of the aid to Poland.
New Associate Directors appointed for Princebuild and Princebuild UK
2023
During 2023 and in recognition of their achievements in different areas of the business, Ed Duerden and Andrew Richardson were promoted to Associate Directors for Princebuild Limited Works Division and Princebuild UK respectively. Ed and Andrew’s promotions strengthened the senior management team to help drive forward a strategy for continued growth and diversification of our services.
Turnover Exceeds £80 million, Princebuild UK Formed, Flagship Store Constructed for Morrisons and Princebuild holds first Family Fun Day for Staff and Their Families
2022
Continued growth in the company including the demolition and construction of a new flagship store for Morrisons in Little Clacton saw turnover for the group exceed £80 million for the first time. The London branch was renamed as Princebuild UK and formed as a new company within the group with a brand name better matched to our increased geographical coverage, and Princebuild held its first family fun day for all staff and their families in the picturesque surroundings of Nene Park Outdoors Leisure Facility.
Princebuild Celebrates 50 Years in Business, Princebuild Group Formed and a New Associate Director Appointed
2021
Directors and Staff of Princebuild celebrated half a century of successful trading and continued growth by raising over £50,000 for charity and good causes. Princebuild Group was formed to facilitate a family led succession Management Buyout and Tom Duerden was promoted to Associate Director to further strengthen the Management Team.
PCRFM Partnership commences and successfully trading through Covid-19
2020
2020 proved to be a challenging and different year in many ways. The company reacted very quickly to the Covid-19 pandemic and introduced safe systems of working that meant services were only disrupted for a short period of time. Development commenced at the Princebuild Northampton site with the creation of six new light industrial units which will be made available for letting once complete. Although turnover for the company was affected in some disciplines of the business by the pandemic the directors were very pleased to record a healthy profit for the year.
Commercial Fleet Awards Winner, First Electric Cars added to Fleet and Profit Sharing Scheme Introduced
2019
Princebuild celebrated multiple award success and were named winners of the Private Sector Fleet of the Year at the National Commercial Fleet Awards against the likes of Royal Mail and John Lewis. In addition Morrisons Supermarkets named Princebuild their Contractor of the Year. The first fully electric cars were added to the company’s fleet and a profit sharing scheme was introduced to incentivise and reward all employees for achieving improvements in the profitability of the company. Celebrity Guest Frank Bruno was amongst the celebrities appearing at Blingo 2019 helping to raise more than £27k for charity.
Turnover Exceeds £60 million, First Contract Exceeding £10 million Awarded
2018
Continued growth of the business, particularly in the retail sector saw the company’s turnover exceed £60 million for the first time. The company also received its largest single project order exceeding £10 million for the extension of the Centre MK’s Grade 2 listed shopping centre. Van 300 was added to the company’s fleet and in CSR the company launched a new charity event ‘Blingo’ with celebrity guests including Warwick Davis raising more than £20k for charity.
New Director appointed and Princebuild celebrate double awards win
2017
For the first time in the history of the company the board of directors was expanded to include a non-family member with the appointment of Paul Baker (Director of Construction). The appointment was made to aid the continued growth of the business and bring further strength and knowledge to the board. In recognition of the demand for new housing in the UK, Princebuild commenced with the development of new homes with a view to diversifying the company’s service offering. In November 2017 the company was extremely proud to receive recognition at the Peterborough Business Awards winning both the Corporate Social Responsibility Award and the Larger Business of the Year Award.
Introduction of Long Service Awards and Turnover Exceeds £50 million
2016
A notable increase in the demand for the company’s services from new and existing clients saw turnover exceed £50 million for the first time; and in order to reward employees for dedicating their careers to our company, a Long Service Awards Scheme was introduced providing milestone incentives to employees whose service exceeds 10, 15, 20 and 25 years. A celebration to mark the launch of the scheme was attended by more than 45 qualifying staff.
Princeclean launched, London office opened, company mascot 'Peeby' introduced and Laurence Mould, Associate Director, retires
2015
To aid further growth in the company and in order to provide additional services, a new joint equity venture, Princeclean Ltd, was formed providing internal cleaning services to Princebuild Ltd, but also offering a complete cleaning service to both domestic and commercial clients. In addition, the growth of our business in Central London saw the company open a new office facility in Baker Street. To further promote the company Peeby our company mascot was created. Also, after more than 40 years of service to the company, Associate Director, Laurence Mould, retired.
Princeenergy and Building Services amalgamate
2014
Further expansion in both our Renewables Division and Building Services Division, and a desire to better promote the services we offer, saw an amalgamation of the two divisions. A new website was launched to promote all of the services now provided by Princeenergy.
Princesolar becomes Princeenergy and turnover exceeds £40 million
2013
The Renewables Division expanded its services to provide other technologies, such as air source heat pumps and LED lighting, and was renamed Princeenergy to better reflect the services that it offers. Growth in retail refurbishment and construction projects pushed the company’s turnover to more than £42 million for the year.
Paul Baker appointed as Associate Director
2012
After providing more than 15 years of service to the company and being instrumental in the successful growth of the business, as well as the opening of several of the company’s branches, Paul Baker was appointed as an associate director for the company.
New offices opened in Thetford and Renewables Division formed
2011
In order to improve our service to existing clients and provide opportunities to obtain new business, a new office was opened in Thetford, increasing our coverage to all of Norfolk, Suffolk and the borders of Essex. Our Renewables Division, Princesolar, was also formed to provide solar photovoltaic and solar thermal installations.
Business of the Year Awards and turnover nearing £30 million
2009
Princebuild Ltd won the much-coveted Evening Telegraph’s Business of the Year Award in recognition of its year-on-year growth, professionalism and contribution to the business community. The prize was awarded by Sir Trevor McDonald at an awards ceremony with more than 300 people in attendance. Turnover for the company was now nearing £30 million.
New offices opened in Bedford and Nottingham and Contract Manager launched
2008
Further expansion in 2005 resulted in the opening of two additional branches – Bedford and Nottingham. With both new branches located on the M1 corridor, this improved our coverage both south and north. Also, the company recognised the need to move forward with technology and to work in a more efficient manner, and so, after 12 months of development, we launched our bespoke software package, Contract Manager, to efficiently run our business. The software package was designed to be fully integrated with our accounting software and can be upgraded as the business develops.
Turnover exceeds £20 million
2006
Continued growth in the company, particularly from planned maintenance works and large refurbishment projects, saw turnover exceed £20 million.
Derek Asplin retires
2005
After providing more than 35 years of service to the company, one of our founding directors, Derek Asplin, retired. A send-off party was held to celebrate Derek’s career and contribution to the company, with more than 300 guests in attendance.
New offices in Gosberton, Spalding, opened and turnover exceeds £15 million
2004
As the company had outgrown the capacity of its Holbeach office, new premises were purchased in Gosberton, near Spalding, and a complete renovation of the site was carried out.
New offices opened in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, and management buyout commences
2003
In order to provide a permanent base in the north of Lincolnshire and to give us access to markets in Newark, Lincoln and Grimsby, a new building was purchased in Market Rasen and opened in October 2003. In the same year succession plans for the business facilitated a management buyout in which associate directors Dale Asplin, Jonathan Pudney, Mark Asplin and Matthew Pudney became shareholders and directors of the company. Princebuild Ltd was now a wholly owned subsidiary of Princebuild Holdings Ltd.
Offices purchased in Northampton
2002
With the continued success of our Northampton branch the decision was made to purchase our own premises. An extensive refurbishment was carried out, providing excellent facilities that allowed us to accommodate an ever-increasing workload in the region, as well as to cater for future growth.
Turnover increases to £10 million
2001
Growth of the company continued in all markets and turnover now exceeded £10 million.
Appointment of Associate Directors
2000
In recognition of the growth the company had achieved through collaborative working and development, Dale Asplin, Jonathan Pudney, Mark Asplin and Matthew Pudney were appointed to the board as associate directors.
Princebuild commences trading nationally and turnover exceeds £5 million
1999
Due to the growth in our business and the larger works that the company was now capable of delivering, we commenced trading nationally and our turnover exceeded £5 million for the first time.
Office opened in Northampton
1997
With growing demand for our services and requests from a number of our larger clients to extend our operational area towards the Midlands, we opened a new office in Northampton.
Office opened in Holbeach, Spalding
1996
With plans in place for expanding the company, a new office was opened in Holbeach, Spalding with the primary purpose of facilitating a large term maintenance and gas servicing contract. This move into the south of Lincolnshire also enabled the company to extend its area of normal daily operations into Boston, Sleaford, Kings Lynn and beyond.
Laurence Mould appointed Associate Director
1991
After providing more than 20 years’ service to the company in a senior management role, Laurence Mould was appointed an associate director of the company and assigned to assist in the controlled expansion of the business.
Head offices constructed in Fengate area of Peterborough
1988
Land acquired in the Fengate area of Peterborough was utilised to build new offices, a joinery shop, stores and garage facilities to form our new head office. This is still our head office and registered address today.
Company name changed to Princebuild Ltd
1985
Keen to show that Peterborough had a successful, dynamic construction and building maintenance service which could compete with the already established local firms and the more well-known national enterprises the company was renamed Princebuild Ltd, and the now familiar green and yellow livery was introduced. Turnover at this point in the company’s history was £1.5 million.
Management buyout from parent group and Small Works Division created
1974
Year-on-year growth culminated with the company being able to separate itself from the parent group through a management buyout by our founding directors, Derek Asplin and Stuart Pudney. In addition, a Small Works Division was created to concentrate on refurbishment, improvement, alteration, response and reactive maintenance, primarily for local authorities and housing associations.
Founded in October 1971
1971
Our company, then known as Eccleshare Construction Ltd, a subsidiary of the Eccleshare Group of Companies based in Lincoln, began trading in the city of Peterborough. Premises were acquired in the city’s Princes Street, from where we took our inspiration for the subsequent renaming of the company. Through the remainder of the seventies and the early eighties, the company gained major contracts for housing, community and industrial projects, including the redevelopment of the city centre’s Boongate area and much of the new Westwood Industrial Estate.
