Gloucestershire engineering business acquired by construction arm of London’s RDCP Group

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A family-owned precision engineering business that has been operating in Gloucestershire for more than four decades has been acquired by a London investment firm for an undisclosed sum.

Woodford Engineering provides machining, fabrication, laser, and water jet cutting services, and has been involved in stone projects including flooring restoration at Buckfast Abbey in Devon and garden structures displayed at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The company, which is based in a 23,000 sq ft facility in Lydney, has now been purchased by the construction arm of the RDCP Group, which controls $250m (£180m) worth of investments in the UK.

Specialist engineering contractors RDCP Infrastructure, which has a balance sheet of over £50m, said it had been looking to expand into the precision engineering market and described the Gloucestershire business as “the right fit”.

Woodford Engineering’s 20 staff will remain with the business as part of the deal.

Joint managing directors of Woodford Engineering, Graeme and Paul Johnson, said: “Although we are sad to be leaving the business we have built up over 40 years, we are pleased that in RDCP we have chosen a group that appreciates the quality and potential of our workforce and the capacity of our business.

“We know Woodford Engineering will continue to serve its customers well under its new ownership.”

RDCP Group founder and chief executive Sameer Rizvi said the firm had been attracted by Woodford Engineering’s track record for revenue and profitability growth, including during the pandemic.

Mr Rizvi said: “We see huge growth opportunities working with the team to bring on more new clients and diversify the firm’s revenue streams. We are excited to welcome all the staff to the RDCP Group and look forward to working with the senior management team.

“Graeme Johnson and Paul Johnson have built a fantastic business. It will be business as usual for Woodford Engineering and its loyal workforce. All we want to do is carry on from where the Johnson brothers have left off.”

RDCP Group employs around 700 people across the UK and also has healthcare and real estate divisions. The group also owns the largely London-based chain of Mexican restaurants Chilango.

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