Talented individuals Zac Cosgrove and Luke Drew of Bristol-based business Cosgrove and Drew Engineering Services have been shortlisted for the 2019 NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards.
The pair are shortlisted for the Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year category alongside five other South West based business owners all selected for their hard work and inspiring stories.
Zac and Luke’s place in the category is well-deserved having grown their business CDE Services rapidly in the 5 short years since it was formed by the duo when they were aged just 23 and 24. Since its humble beginnings as a two man band with no funding, the company has grown massively. It now sports a 48-strong team of contractors, apprentices and employees and a client base that includes the likes of Dyson, Virgin Care, Edward’s Vacuums and many more.
This rapid growth has been largely down to the passion and drive of the founders who have gone from working as engineers themselves with no business knowledge to running a successful company. Since stepping back from the hands-on side of the business and focusing on building client relationships, the company has flourished with a 2018 turnover that was double that of the previous year. Furthermore, the company boasts a client return rate of 65-70% and a 100% retention rate of directly employed staff.
Changing their role from hands on engineers to business managers has meant numerous great things for the company as it led to a focus on the companies values and how they could create the best possible work environment for their employees. The company’s success has allowed them to step back and build client relationships. They can choose the best jobs to suit the business and take time to get the right training for their employees to continue to not only improve the company but also their employees skill sets. The company has stuck to its roots and continues to nurture young talent with many employees having started at apprenticeship level and worked their way up through the company in much the same way as Zac and Luke themselves. Zac and Luke took their own advanced apprenticeships with Lorne Stewart and Bath and North East Somerset Council.
Discussing their nomination, Zac and Luke said
“Being shortlisted as a finalist for Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 is a huge achievement for us as a business. It is always great to receive external recognition and accreditation from a board of professional judges”
The NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards ceremony will be held on the 24th of October at the Sandy Park Conference and Banqueting Centre in Exeter where the winner of the category will be announced.