Daniel Crask and Sian Stone from Acorn Analytical Services join Ben for this edition of All Things Business – The Podcast.
The asbestos management business has seen some extraordinary growth in the past few years and are using that growth to help promote and raise money for a number of local charities.
Testing for asbestos
Ben begins by asking the Acorn team about the services the business provides. They explain that the business is a UKAS-accredited asbestos consultancy, providing surveys, laboratory testing, removal project management and much more. Working with clients from industrial site owners needing a full survey to homeowners who need their garage roof looking at, Acorn helps to keep people safe from the risks of being exposed to asbestos.
The duo emphasises the importance of having asbestos-specific surveys on buildings that were built prior to the ban in 2000, as regular building surveyors may be able to spot some instances, but don’t have the expertise to guarantee that a building is safe.
To test for asbestos, samples will be taken from a suspected material within a building. Acorn’s laboratory can test for the presence of asbestos, often turning around tests within 24 hours to ensure a prompt response to any issue. If asbestos is present, further tests will be done to assess the risk, and monitoring will continue to ensure that risk is managed effectively.
Successful growth
Acorn’s comprehensive service offering has led to unprecedented growth. Sian shares that their growth rate since they started 12 years ago is around 3,600%. Last year they hired 16 people, and have already hired 14 this year, showing that this growth shows no signs of slowing down. While they are now a national business serving clients such as Busy Bees Nurseries, Clarks and various NHS Trusts, they continue to hire in Northampton and support local charities as much as they can.
This year, the business’s Social and Charity Workplace Committee is planning ten events across the year to support three charities, including Cynthia Spencer Hospice, Muscular Dystrophy UK and Mesothelioma UK. Sian will be participating in the first of these: a skydive! Dan emphasises the importance of bringing together the whole company for these initiatives, which help build morale as well as supporting good causes.
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