A fast-growing facilities management firm has bought an energy efficiency business as it continues its remarkable rise.

Servest, near Bury St Edmunds, has acquired Llewellyn Smith, which is based in the town.

Servest presides over a rapidly-growing services empire from its Fornham All Saints headquarters, and moved from 25th place in 2014 in the East Anglian Daily Times/Eastern Daily Press Top 100 list of leading companies across Suffolk and Norfolk to 19th place this year, as its sales soared from £187million in 2014 to £215m in 2015, while its national workforce grew from 15,271 to 16,569. It now employs more than 18,000 staff across 7,000 UK sites.

Servest said it wanted to “further expand” its energy management provision with its latest purchase.

Since 2011, the firm has acquired several businesses across a range of service-related areas, from pest control to security. They include Sherwood, Turners Cleaning and Support Services, Stag Security Services, ECH Solutions, 7 Day Catering, Maxwell Stewart building and maintenance services, and Facilities Services Group.

Last year, it raised £90million of working capital to support its plans to become one of the UK’s top five facilities firms. Llewellyn Smith provides compliance and consultancy services to commercial and domestic markets, including the big six utility companies, and energy efficiency installers within the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) initiative.

Servest identified the firm, which employs 60 staff nationwide, as a good “strategic fit” for the expansion of the business in the high-growth energy management sector.

Servest group chief executive officer for UK and Europe Rob Legge said: “Servest is already helping clients to save up to 30% on their annual energy bill. The acquisition of Llewellyn Smith enables us to offer additional energy services and expertise to clients. This will ultimately help clients to further reduce their carbon footprint, save money and improve their sustainable and environmental credentials.”

He added: “We’re pleased to have Llewellyn Smith on-board, and I look forward to working with the team to integrate and expand our energy services.”

David Llewellyn, its group chief executive, and the senior management team, will remain in place to drive the strategy and growth of Servest’s energy management division.

Mr Smith said there was “real cultural similarities” between the two firms. “We both value respect and honesty and are committed to the highest levels of service for our customers,” he said. “This is a very exciting opportunity.”

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Servest group chief executive officer for UK and Europe Rob Legge.