Bishopsgate set to enter new stage of growth after Allport purchase

The MD of Bishopsgate, a two-man delivery and installation firm, has described the purchase of Allport Cargo Services’ Specialist Services division in June as “a massive step” forward for the business.

The firm, which has its HQ in Royal Wootton Bassett and is part of the Ward Thomas group, serves customers in the fitness, medical and banking sectors, delivering and installing sensitive items, high-value goods, and goods that require extra care.

The purchase, for an undisclosed sum, of Allport’s Specialist Services doubles Bishopsgate’s turnover, which is forecast to be approximately £10m.

The deal, which included a site in Glasgow, has also doubled the firm’s road fleet with 30 trucks and 10 trailers added as part of the deal.

“We’ve upped our experience level so it opens more doors and gives us the opportunity to win more business

and bigger contracts,” MD Tim Bloch told MT.

“Allport is more London and project-centric. Because it has worked at a bigger level it has appealed or won bigger one-off contracts, so we will definitely benefit from that.”

Despite this, Bloch said it would be business as usual at the enlarged company, which had no intention of adopting a policy of growth for growth’s sake.

“In this industry you have to mix the really big specialist jobs with regular work,” he said.