A hazardous materials and environmental compliance group has snapped up a Suffolk company.

HSL Compliance has bought Jordan Environmental - a family firm based in Bury St Edmunds - for an undisclosed sum.

Jordan's 20-strong team - including director Alan Jordan - will transfer to the new owners. 

HSL, a £22m turnover business based at Ross-on-Wye, is the regional UK brand for SGI Compliance - which operates in continental Europe. It is a growing company with clients including local authorities and housing associations in the East of England and wants to secure a foothold in the region.

The move enables it to better serve its customers in the region and its UK-wide contracts by providing it with an on-the-ground presence, it says. 

The acquisition also means it can now offer new specialist services in the form of Jordan Environmental's closed water treatment services.

The firm also recently snapped up South Lanarkshire-based DMA Canyon as it expands its national footprint.

HSL Compliance specialises in water, hazardous materials, fire safety and associated health, safety and environmental services - helping customers to comply with relevant legislation and protect their staff from hazardous materials or activities.

Jordan Environmental was founded in 1996 by Alan Jordan and specialises in water hygiene and treatment and has clients in the education, construction and facilities management sectors - serving them for an average of 14 years. Its biggest customer is Cambridge University.

Jordan Environmental will continue to operate under its existing branding and head of operations Jason Weston will continue to lead the day-to-day running of the company.

Managing director Alan Jordan is set to stay in post for a year to support the transition of the business before retiring after more than 25 years at the helm. Wife Debbie worked for the business for a number of years but stepped back more recently.

Mr Jordan, said: “This is a really important landmark for our business, at a time when demand for our services is at an all-time high.

"Over the last 25 years we’ve transformed from a small, family-run company into a regional market-leader, and I’m excited to see how our people and services will continue to grow as a part of HSL Compliance.”

HSL Compliance chief executive Gavin Hartley said: “Jordan Environmental is the perfect partner to support the next stage of our growth journey as we pursue our ambition to become the UK’s leading water compliance provider.

"Alan, Debbie and the team have built a business based on deep-rooted client relationships and industry-recognised expertise.

“We’re looking forward to building our presence in the East of England further, and plan to bring more businesses across the country into the fold as we drive our nationwide expansion.”

HSL Compliance - which has a workforce of around 400 people - is backed by leading mid-market private equity firm LDC, which first invested £20m in it back in 2019. The latest acquisition is the fourth since it joined forces with it.

The deal team at HSL Compliance was led by Tom Taylor and Gavin Hartley.

Jordan Environmental was advised by Jonathan Hewett and Simon Ratcliffe of Greene & Greene solicitors in Bury St Edmunds.