fds Advises Leading Scottish Highlands Construction and Building Services Group on Transition to Employee Ownership
Award‑winning corporate finance boutique fds has successfully supported Compass Building and Construction Services Limited and Orbis Services Limited through a major milestone in their long‑term succession strategy, the transition to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Operating across the Scottish Highlands from their headquarters in Inverness, Compass Building delivers construction projects across the residential, commercial and public sectors. Orbis Services complements their work by providing specialist plumbing, heating, mechanical, renewable and electrical expertise, creating a fully integrated service offering for clients throughout the region.
The move to employee ownership reflects the shareholders’ strong commitment to safeguarding the future of both companies, protecting the culture they have built, and ensuring long‑term stability for their teams.
Thom Macleod, Managing Director at Compass Building and Orbis Services, commented: “Succession planning is an area that should be at the forefront of every business strategy. In our 17 years of trading, we have come through the initial start-up growing pains, a Vendor Induced Management Buy Out (VIMBO), a widened EMI Share Option scheme and, at the end of 2025, made the transition to an Employee Owned Trust (EOT).
At each point in time our motivation has been to build a sustainable business, recognising the invaluable contribution of the employees and management teams. Having considered various options in consultation with fds, we settled on the EOT as being the best way forward for the business, our employees and indeed our clients and supply chain, all of whom, it has to be said, have been incredibly supportive and complimentary of the move. One of the apparent benefits of the transition is that there has been no break in continuity of governance, personnel, or project delivery. So, whilst the various benefits (collective ownership, shared equitable tax-efficient bonuses) are now manifest in the business, externally the message and reality is “business as usual”.
Working with fds throughout this, I can say that we thoroughly enjoyed everything that fds brought to the table. We were especially impressed by fds’s responsiveness, transparency, and proactive support throughout the process, which gave us reassurance as we continued to run the business.”
Leading the advisory team from fds, Poonam Kaur, CEO, said: “It has been a privilege to guide the companies through this significant chapter. Succession planning is never just a technical process; it’s about protecting the values, culture and people that make a business what it is.
Our experience advising on Employee Ownership Trusts meant we could support the shareholders in achieving an exit route that provides continuity, rewards the team, and secures long‑term resilience for both companies. We’re proud to have played a part in something that not only secures the future of the companies but also recognises and rewards the dedication of the teams.”
As trusted specialists in succession planning and employee ownership, fds provides end‑to‑end advisory services for owner‑managed businesses across the UK. From exploring exit routes to structuring and delivering transitions, fds combines deep technical expertise with a personal, relationship‑driven approach, ensuring clients achieve sustainable outcomes that reflect their ambitions and their values.