With a new Managing Director at the helm, HFL Building Solutions is embracing change

When we last spoke with HFL Building Solutions (HFL), one of the UK’s leading building services companies, just one year ago in June 2024, Dave Saxton, founder and then Managing Director, relayed the story of how HFL rose through the ranks. However, there have been some crucial changes across the business, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, with Dave’s son, Jake Saxton, taking over as Managing Director. 

From emergency response to planned maintenance, HFL is a mechanical and electrical (M&E) general contractor providing a one-stop solution for emergency cover, planned preventative maintenance, and project support for a range of customers and buildings. “HFL started in a small office in Manchester with my dad as Managing Director and a couple of other employees, but over the last 20 years, it has grown into one of the largest M&E companies in the North West,” Jake opens. 

“We currently operate from an office in Denton, Manchester, with remote offices in Birmingham and Newcastle, but our geographic reach has gradually expanded across the UK since our foundation. We’re currently providing 24/7 maintenance on over 650 sites, as well as offering tailored and technical solutions for buildings of all shapes and sizes, from commercial offices, leisure and sport complexes to theatres and educational premises. 

“Our teams are highly skilled and experienced in various trades, not only mechanical and electrical engineering, but also water hygiene, gas and air conditioning,” he adds. “We’re proud to remain family-owned, and we’re passionate about investing in the future of the M&E industry through apprenticeships and personal development. Our one team mentality is a huge part of our success, as although we’ve seen many similar businesses acquired by larger companies, we’re a close-knit team and we remain committed to both our people and our community. 

“As a local business, it’s great to provide opportunities for people in the area. We treat our employees as individuals, rather than as numbers, and we operate as one big team. To exemplify our commitment to our people, we’ve recently joined the Greater Manchester Good Company Charter to produce an ESG report on how our company benefits the area, and we’re also now a living wage employer. In terms of equal opportunities, we’re thrilled to have a fantastic female apprentice onboard who will shortly become our first female engineer.” 

Turning to current projects, Jake continues: “We’ve currently got a couple of interesting projects on the go, such as replacing a wet riser for a dry riser in a large Grade II listed building in Manchester. This project includes full mechanical replacement, drilling, fire stopping and testing, and is probably one of the largest projects we’ve undertaken to date. We’re also replacing 200 heat recovery units in an apartment building in Birmingham, and we’re involved with air conditioning replacements in large medical centres across the UK.  

“Across our portfolio, many of our clients are concentrating on the reduction of both costs and energy usage. By collaborating with these clients, we can better understand how they can reduce their carbon footprints and operate more sustainably. We’re increasingly replacing gas boilers with electric boilers, for example, as well as installing LED lighting, sensors, and conducting energy audits.” 

HFL is also embracing sustainability from an internal perspective. “Over the last 12 months, we’ve dramatically reduced our paper consumption in the office by 90 per cent,” Jake says. “We’re using an online system for invoices and reports, which includes investing in new hardware for the engineers, and we’re continuously training engineers as we explore new technologies like air source heat pumps. 

“I’ve also made some smaller decisions like changing our uniform provider to one that uses recycled materials and providing every employee with a branded reusable cup to reduce coffee cup waste. We’ve implemented hybrid vehicles across the fleet, and although we’re currently in a leased building, there’s potential to purchase our own property in the future, which would enable us to invest in the necessary infrastructure to operate even more sustainably.”  

Although Jake has been in the role of Managing Director for less than a year, it’s clear that he’s already having an impact on the business, which is particularly impressive considering the ongoing transition. Elaborating on his HFL journey, Jake says: “I joined the business after completing a four-year building service apprenticeship, after which I became a contract manager. Then, as a senior contract manager for the North West region, I looked after a property portfolio including Alton Towers Hotel, Chester New Market, The Corn Exchange, and NOMA, a 20-acre mixed-use development in Manchester. In 2024, an unfortunate opportunity for me to become Managing Director arose when my dad was diagnosed with cancer; although I was getting used to an operational role, the transition came slightly too soon.” 

However, Jake is keen to highlight that the wider HFL team have been crucial to his transition. “Replacing my dad means there are big shoes to fill, but I’m humbled by the support I’ve received so far from customers, colleagues, and service providers,” he shares. “I’m learning as much as I possibly can from my dad and the rest of the team, and I’m constantly gaining a deeper understanding of the entire business. 

“Although I’m currently focused on getting everything in order, I’m also working closely with other managers to streamline our internal processes to drive efficiency, sustainability, and employee engagement,” Jake concludes. “I’d like to grow the water management side of the business, and as we’ve recently started to work with medical centres, there’s potential to expand into the public sector in the future.”  

www.hflbuildingsolutions.co.uk