Fire & Life Safety
Fire detection and alarms, extinguishers, emergency lighting, fire risk assessment, passive fire protection, fire doors, fire dampers, smoke control, dry and wet risers, and associated inspection, servicing and maintenance.
Keeping the built environment safe, compliant and operational
Certella is a UK-based group established to acquire and partner with specialist businesses that inspect, maintain, repair and protect critical building systems and assets.
Building exceptional businesses. Together.
We’re building Certella to help exceptional businesses achieve more together. Through strategic acquisitions and investments, our ambition is to create a leading national group in compliance and technical building services.
We partner with established businesses with strong reputations, trusted customer relationships and skilled teams. Each company retains its brand and operational identity, while gaining access to the expertise, relationships and resources of the wider group.
Together, we can open doors to new customers, broaden our services and pursue larger opportunities. Shared support gives local teams more time to focus on their customers and their craft, while investment in people, systems and further acquisitions creates the foundations for sustained growth.
Focus
Specialist businesses with a common purpose
We are interested in established, profitable businesses providing essential services that keep the built environment safe, compliant and operational. Our areas of interest span six complementary divisions:
Water & Environmental
Water hygiene, Legionella control, water treatment, sampling and testing, tank services, TMV servicing, environmental monitoring, asbestos and occupational hygiene.
Mechanical & HVAC
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning maintenance, air handling units, pumps and pressurisation systems, heat exchangers, calorifiers, plant-room equipment, commercial gas compliance, controls and associated mechanical services.
Electrical & Building Systems
Electrical inspection, testing and maintenance, fixed-wire testing, emergency lighting, lightning protection and associated building systems.
Inspection & Technical Compliance
Statutory and technical inspection including LOLER, PUWER, PSSR, LEV, lifting equipment, machinery and pressure systems, alongside specialist testing and certification.
Specialist Asset Maintenance
Industrial doors, powered gates, loading-bay equipment, lifts, commercial kitchen and refrigeration equipment maintainance, and other specialist installed assets requiring regular inspection, servicing and repair.
Criteria
What we look for
- Established, profitable specialist businesses
- Recurring or repeat servicing, maintenance or inspection revenue
- Strong reputations and long-standing customer relationships
- Experienced people and capable management
- Strong cash generation
- Services that keep the built environment safe, compliant or operational
We remain flexible on acquisition size and structure where the quality of the business, its people and its strategic fit with Certella are compelling.
Our experience
The team behind Certella
Certella was founded by entrepreneur Phil Wood with the ambition to build a leading British group of specialist businesses that keep the built environment safe, compliant and operational.
To deliver that ambition, Phil has brought together an exceptional team of senior industry leaders, experienced acquisition professionals and specialist advisers. Their expertise spans technical services, business leadership, acquisitions, finance and law, combining entrepreneurial drive with the experience required to acquire and develop established businesses.
Businesses joining Certella can draw on this experience to strengthen performance, develop their people and pursue new opportunities, while retaining the freedom to manage day-to-day operations and customer relationships.
Our approach
A partnership built around what matters
Certella is a founder-led group. We acquire successful businesses because we value the people, expertise, reputation and customer relationships that made them successful. Our aim is to build on those strengths, not impose wholesale restructuring or make cost-cutting the basis of our investment.
01
Preserve what makes you successful
We respect established brands, customer relationships, workforce expertise and company culture. Changes should have a clear purpose and be developed with the people who know the business best.
02
Freedom to lead
Local management teams continue leading day-to-day operations, with agreed responsibilities and clear group reporting. Our approach gives capable leaders the room to lead and support when they need it.
03
Experience on hand
Owners and management teams can turn to our board and sector specialists for practical guidance on growth, financial performance, people and important business decisions.
04
Shape the transaction around your objectives
We acquire majority stakes or entire businesses. Owners may retain an equity interest and continue leading, realise part of the value they have built or plan a full exit. Different shareholders can have different objectives.
For owners
Considering what comes next?
You may want to keep leading your business while gaining the support and resources to take it further. You may want to realise part of the value you have built, arrange a partner’s departure or plan your own retirement.
We work with owners who want to remain involved and those planning a full exit, shaping the transaction and transition around their objectives.
Whatever your objectives, we begin with a direct, discreet conversation about what matters to you, your people and the future of your business.
Start a conversation
All conversations are confidential and without obligation.
Contact
Start a confidential conversation
If you own, advise or represent a business that may be suitable for Certella, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Alternatively, contact Phil Wood directly at phil@certella.co.uk.