In just under four years London-based Cooperman & Goldberg Ltd has made significant progress thanks to a strong mixture of integrity and ambition. This is not only underlined by its recent nomination for a National Building & Construction Award within the Contractor of the Year (Contract value over £5m) category, but also by the fact that it has successfully broken into the Middle Eastern market, having secured several major contracts in Saudi Arabia.
“We were set up in December 2021 with the aim of providing comprehensive construction services within a business-to-business model,” explains Gabreil Beyene, Commercial Director and partner within the company. “Since then, we have continued to build our reputation thanks to a clear focus on quality and the strength of our range of services.”
These include design & build, project management, and commercial construction, and with such an extensive offering, Cooperman & Goldberg has been working hard to develop the infrastructure to underpin its activities. As a result, it has 140 staff in the UK carrying out a variety of roles, supplemented by over 500 workers in Saudi Arabia. This gives it a formidable workforce of 600-plus employees across the organisation to support its work across the two regions.
In terms of UK-based projects, for the past 18 months Cooperman & Goldberg has been working on a major hotel fit-out in West London. Valued at over £30m, the development has involved various elements, showcasing just what the company is capable of. In addition, it has been working on a number of apartments in Wimbledon as part of a scheme worth in excess of £15m.
While the UK is continuing to provide opportunities for Cooperman & Goldberg, the hurdles within the marketplace makes the company’s decision to branch out into the Middle East all the more understandable, as Gabreil highlights: “The UK is a challenging arena at the moment, but that’s the same for all companies, not just us. Projects can take a long time to come to fruition, as the planning process is so lengthy. Things move much faster in the Middle East.
“We want to expand as a British company in the Middle East and be part of history. We’re particularly keen to bring other UK companies along that journey with us and help our suppliers develop in the region too. There’s a huge demand for British values and standards, so the potential is there.”
Gabreil’s sentiments are echoed by Michael Chilaka, Managing Director of Cooperman & Goldberg, who has also played an integral role in the company’s success: “We have built a reputation for delivery, discipline, and integrity at home in the UK and now across Saudi Arabia. Our momentum reflects our team’s craft and our commitment to British standards of quality, safety, and transparency, while investing in people and supply chains that can scale our ambitions. We are focused on executing the next wave of projects with the pace and precision our clients expect.”
Having hit the ground running in Saudi Arabia, Cooperman & Goldberg is showing UK companies what’s possible by already securing several substantial infrastructure and public sector contracts. These include a hospital project valued at 380m Saudi Riyal (£75m) that will be taking place over the next four years. The company is also currently working on a 40km infrastructure project on King Khalid Road in Riyadh, one of the most important roads in Saudi Arabia, as well as developing 97 villas for the National Housing Council.
With rapidly developing interests in the Middle East and at home, it has been essential that Cooperman & Goldberg continually strengthens its infrastructure to support its future aspirations. Any evolving business needs to ensure it has the right staff in place to support its growth, which is why the company places such a strong emphasis on developing its people, and Reanne Rigione, Operational Manager, is a prime example of this approach in action.
“I’ve received a tremendous amount of help in building my skills during my three years at the company,” outlines Reanne. “I’ve already learned a great deal, particularly with regards to health and safety, which is always the Number One priority within construction. The management have been very attentive to the needs of myself and all the other staff members.
“Of course there’s always room for improvement, and Cooperman & Goldberg have provided an excellent environment for me to develop and push myself. They’re continually building the company and helping their people on their individual career paths as they do so.
“Although I haven’t had the opportunity to work in Saudi Arabia yet, I’m very excited about the possibility. It would be a great experience, both personally and professionally.”
Given the severe shortage of skills within the UK construction sector, the emphasis Cooperman & Goldberg is placing on staff development makes a great deal of sense, as Gabreil says: “Many Eastern European trade workers left the country following Brexit, leaving a large vacuum behind them. To help address the shortfall, the government really needs to shine more of a light on the potential of apprenticeships, especially as some tradespeople are earning more than those in the City. There are more options out there rather than going down the academia route of university.
“For our part, we enjoy high levels of staff retention thanks to the incentives we provide and our commitment to training. We want to develop our people in-line with our values and help them reach their potential with us.
“Our main objective is to keep working hard and to maintain our momentum, securing ever larger scale projects in both the UK and the Middle East. There’s a significant number of regeneration projects going on in the region, such as in Oman for example, where they’ve started construction of a whole new city.”
In addition to its commercial success, another indicator that Cooperman & Goldberg is doing something right is its nomination for a prestigious National Building & Construction Award. “This recognition is a huge honour for the team,” says Gabreil. “It’s also a testament to the dedication, skill and passion we’ve been putting into the business and into every contract we’ve been involved in.”
Whilst it is clear that Cooperman & Goldberg’s reputation in the Middle East is continuing to develop thanks to its emphasis on quality and traditional values, it is also apparent that its approach remains popular closer to home with its National Building & Construction Award nomination and growing portfolio of major projects. This makes it a company to keep an eye on in the months and years ahead, as it keeps blazing a trail in the UK and abroad.