In July this year the APEM Group were delighted to announce the acquisition of Woodrow and welcome them to the Group. Four months later, Will Woodrow and Sharon Eastwood share what being part of a global environmental consultancy means to them and the wider team.
Being available for acquisition wasn’t originally on the cards for Woodrow. However, Will and Sharon had recognised that Woodrow was at a point where a significant investment in business infrastructure needed to be made to reach their full potential and to continue to grow. They had reached capacity and needed to recruit to ensure that they could maintain their exceptionally high standards of client delivery and support.
The approach from APEM was a complete surprise but came at an opportune time. It soon became clear that the two businesses shared the same values, which was of paramount importance to Will.
“Having built the business up over nearly 20 years, Sharon and I wanted to ensure that there was a stable platform in place to enable it to continue to grow, securing it for the future, not only for the staff but also for our clients. From the moment we met, Adrian and Stuart made us feel comfortable. We’ve worked hard to create a strong reputation in Ireland, we are known for doing the right thing and this is clearly demonstrated by the wider APEM team also.”
The terrestrial renewables market in Ireland is developing rapidly to align with the country’s green objectives. By aligning Woodrow with an established and like-minded consultancy, Will could see that their future would be secure.
By becoming part of a larger environmental consultancy, the Woodrow team benefit from a comprehensive framework of business support functions including HR, Finance, and dedicated project managers, allowing their technical staff to concentrate on client delivery.
It has also provided a wealth of opportunities for the Woodrow team, opening the door to personal and career opportunities both in Ireland and further afield, helping to ensure that entire career paths can be spent working for one organisation, rather than a steppingstone as part of their career journey.
Will and Sharon have been thrilled with the amount of access and support that they have received, from dedicated client development sessions and workshops through to proactive and practical advice to help grow their core skills of terrestrial ecological habitat restoration.
Sharon says: “The openness of APEM to collaborate and support has been terrific. It’s great to be able to share issues and straight away people come back with ideas and recommendations. The level of support has been truly amazing.”
“One of the loveliest things has been to have been given three additional wellbeing days in 2021. The whole company have been encouraged to take a break and recharge following what has been an exceptionally busy time.”
So what does the future hold?
“Without a doubt the most exciting thing for us is to be part of a larger group and all the benefits that brings with it” says Will. “To play a part in helping the Group to grow its Irish identity and presence is what we are looking forward to the most. Of course with that there are going to be growing pains as we fully integrate in to the wider organisation, but we know that we will be supported throughout.”
The meeting of expertise between Woodrow and APEM Ltd has meant that both businesses have been able to evolve their service delivery to existing and new clients. Sustainable and renewable development in Ireland is essential and the APEM Group are ideally placed to give support. From onshore and offshore wind, solar farms and energy storage, the team have an extensive collective track record in delivering the very best data and solutions.
APEM Group’s CEO, Dr Adrian Williams commented:
“I had got to know Will and Sharon during the sale process, and it was thus wonderful to meet the rest of the team and see how likeminded everyone was with respect to their dedication to deliver the very best technical expertise for their clients – something we hold dear across the APEM Group. Integration is definitely a two-way process though and just as we have welcomed everyone with open arms to the APEM Group so it’s great to see the willingness and enthusiasm of the Woodrow team to combine forces with the APEM team. Four months in and we’ve done a lot but there is still more to do to realise the true potential of our union; with a plan in place to do just that I’m excited for the future.
“2022 is going to be an even bigger year for the APEM Group, with more tactical acquisitions in discussion and plans to increase our global work even further. There really has never been a more exciting time in the environmental consultancy sector!”
Will & Sharon
APEM Group CEO, Dr Adrian Williams