Garside & Laycock employs 80 staff and enjoyed a turnover of £16m last year.

The firm specialises in maintenance and small contracting works for a string of high-profile clients inlcuding the Royal Mail, Her Majesty’s Courts Services, Lancashire County Council, University of Manchester and Greater Manchester Police.

James Thoden van Velzen, CEO of SPIE UK, said: “The acquisition of Garside & Laycock fits our strategic plan to expand our regional coverage in the North of England and bring niche market skills to widen our FM delivery offering.

“As a trustworthy hard services provider, this company shares our guiding principles of performance, local presence and sustainability.”

Paul Garside, Managing Director of Garside & Laycock, said: “From our first meeting it was immediately evident that SPIE UK and Garside & Laycock operate in specialist markets and both have a culture of high quality and customer satisfaction.

“This unification will ensure a smooth, seamless transition to our clients, expanding the range of services we are able to offer.

“The integration of Garside & Laycock into SPIE UK ensures a sustainable future for the company and most importantly its people and supply chain partners throughout the North of England.

“Garside & Laycock is both delighted and excited to be a division of SPIE UK and looks forward to a promising future.”