ODGroup: Building on success
After more than two decades in business, ODGroup has plenty to build on – and even more to build towards.
Since 2004, we have delivered projects across a wide range of sectors, building a strong reputation within the industry and earning the trust of long-standing clients along the way. Our expertise spans design, construction, fit-out and refurbishment, backed by specialist teams and extensive industry experience.
For Group Director Adrian Boyce, that track record is a powerful platform to build on. ODGroup has proved its resilience through changing markets, continuing to evolve along the way. Now, with an expanding breadth of expertise and the ambition to do more, its sights are firmly set on the next stage of growth.
“It’s no mean feat to be a construction and fit-out business of this age,” he says. “ODGroup is robust and well run. But we’ve reached a point where we want to do something more and become something more.”
Greater ambition doesn’t mean leaving behind the values that have shaped ODGroup from the start. As the business continues to evolve, the principles on which founder Jon Kearney built it remain firmly in place.
For Kearney, one word captures where ODGroup stands today: “Ready. Ready to provide outstanding delivery, integrity and accountability, and to build on successful partnerships.”
Group Finance Director Kelly Watt has experienced ODGroup’s growth and development first-hand, having been part of the business for 10 years. “Having been part of ODGroup for the past decade, it’s been incredibly rewarding to see how far we’ve come. We’ve achieved so much during that time, and with the changes we’re making to strengthen and develop the business, I’m excited about the opportunities ahead, and what the next chapter holds for the Group.”
That evolution is reflected in the clearly defined offers brought together under the ODGroup banner. Each brings greater focus to a specialist area, while retaining the shared culture, experience and relationships that have always underpinned the business.
- ODInteriors delivers complex refurbishments and high-quality Cat A and Cat B fit-outs, including projects in occupied buildings and other challenging environments.
- ODCreate provides a turnkey design and build service, taking projects from initial concept and workplace strategy through design and construction to furniture and final delivery.
Boyce brings a unique perspective to ODGroup’s next stage. His relationship with the business stretches back 15 years – first as a client and now within ODGroup. He knows what it is to sit on the other side of the table, and what clients need from the people entrusted with delivering their projects.
“Lots of things will stay the same,” he says. “The people you talk to are the people you deal with, manage and resolve issues with. That makes us a certain type of business that I think people want to be a part of and work with.”
Bringing in the best
What is changing is how much more ODGroup can bring to the table. Today’s projects demand greater sophistication across design, sustainability, cost, performance and delivery, and we have assembled the talent, vision and technical know-how to respond.
Much of that comes down to people. Expertise developed internally has been strengthened by best-in-the-business additions to the team, bringing fresh perspectives and exceptional industry knowledge.
“We’ve been deliberate about who we’ve brought into the business. And it’s not just about individuals – they’ve also brought teams with them,” says Boyce. “We see where the market is moving and evolving, and we’re bringing in expertise in the areas where we see the greatest opportunities.”
Construction Director of ODInteriors, Marcus Brooman shares that ambition. “We can make a real difference to the growth of ODGroup, and it’s really exciting. Our aim is to continue building the business sustainably, employing good people and developing an excellent team around us. Ultimately, we want to establish a reliable supply chain and position ourselves as a trusted delivery partner within the traditional fit-out industry.”
With a clear focus on sustainable growth, strong relationships and quality delivery, ODInteriors is building on solid foundations as it looks to strengthen its position within the fit-out and refurbishment sector.
The experience across the team is considerable. People within the business have previously delivered projects worth £50m, £60m and even £100m, giving ODGroup the depth of knowledge to take on ambitious and technically demanding work – and clients greater certainty in the people delivering it.
Solutions that work
For clients, that structure means greater choice in how a project is approached – we draw on the right skills, thinking and delivery route for the job in hand.
Having its own identity is an important part of that, says Group Business Development Director, Gavin Hawkins. “ODCreate is a standalone business, separate from ODInteriors in everything that we do, while still benefiting from shared Group experience and infrastructure,” he says.
Each business has the expertise to stand on its own, with the wider Group behind it when needed. For clients, that brings greater flexibility in finding the right solution to each challenge.
“Customers want projects and problems solved for them,” says Boyce. “They want to know they can lean on us to still get the outcomes they want, even if things need to change along the way. There’s a comfort factor in knowing that, working with us, we’ll figure it out.”
For Boyce, part of the answer lies in looking further ahead – or, as he describes it, “swimming upstream a bit more and helping come up with the solution rather than being told what the solution is.”
But whatever the approach, a good solution has to work in real life. “Anyone can solve a problem by throwing tonnes of money at it, or by taking another six months to sort it out,” says Boyce. “The real skill is finding a smarter answer that works within the realities of the client’s business.”
We want those relationships to extend beyond individual projects, supporting clients across portfolios and becoming a team they can turn to as their requirements evolve.
“We focus on delivering projects on time, to a high standard and with a great client experience,” says Steve Talbot, Commercial Director of ODInteriors. “That consistency makes us a trusted partner. Strong relationships today lead to future opportunities.”
For Boyce, that client relationship matters as much as the work itself. “I want people to enjoy working with us,” he says. Even when a project is at its most challenging, he wants clients to know: “Whatever the circumstances, it’s going to be a good call. We’ll get what we need out of it.”
It’s that commitment to clients that will remain at the core of ODGroup’s next stage – with broader capabilities, greater ambition and the experience to turn increasingly complex briefs into successful spaces that create lasting value.
See ODGroup’s expertise in action. Explore our latest projects and case studies.
