The SCA Group,www.sca-group.com, has signed up the South Coast practice of accountancy and investment management group Smith & Williamson – www.smith.williamson.co.uk – for an initial two years.

SCA, which employs 120 people and is headquartered near Ringwood in west Hampshire/near Bournemouth in east Dorset, excels in scaffolding, rope access and containment for the commercial and military sectors, onshore and offshore.

Earlier this year the group, established 13 years ago, launched its rope access service to meet demands for safety and quality work on inaccessible structures such as oil platforms, wind turbines and high-rise offices.

Another division, SCA Pro-Tect, is now at the forefront of the UK and European shrink-wrap market, covering structures such as banks, bridges, oil rigs and art galleries with protective material.

Clients include defence contractor BAE Systems (www.baesystems.com), ships repairer and vessel conversion group A&P (www.ap-group.co.uk) and house builders Barratt Homes (www.barratthomes.co.uk) and McCarthy & Stone (www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk).

Steve Bicknell, SCA Group’s finance director, said: “A number of strategically shrewd partnering agreements have been achieved over time allowing for a prolonged period of continual growth and further expansion in to European and international markets.

“As such, SCA recognised Smith & Williamson as an ideal candidate for audit services, and the accountancy and investment management group was enlisted for this role.

“SCA has grown substantially with its client base, meeting exacting standards set by customers who rightly demand best-in-class safety performance and management for work-at-height projects.

“I have worked with Smith & Williamson previously and have always been impressed by the firm’s professionalism, intelligence and commercial awareness, so it made compelling sense to engage their services.”

Julie Mutton, a partner at the assurance and business services (ABS) arm of Smith & Williamson in Kings Park Road, Southampton, said: “The SCA Group is a leading player in southern England with its highly professional services to industry, and we look forward to providing advice and support.”

Steve added: “The SCA Group was established by the existing directors from fairly modest beginnings, and their drive and determination has brought about more than a degree of success.

“With unrivalled knowledge of the ship repair industry, SCA was soon at the forefront of this competitive and potentially perilous market.

“It’s skills, no-nonsense approach to health and safety and commitment to serving the client led to the award of long-term partnering agreements with prestigious ship repair companies such as BAE Systems and the A&P Group, fine recognition for the firm and the perfect grounding to expand operations.

“Safe in the knowledge that the marine scaffolding division was firmly established and recognised in this market, the SCA directors were not content with resting on their laurels and quickly addressed the further expansion of the business.

“Applying the same style of management to alternative sectors, and an irrepressible appetite for high standards and safe working practices, the SCA Group applied itself to the commercial markets and quickly achieved success through large, blue-chip firms such as Barratt David Wilson Homes and McCarthy & Stone.

“Contract scaffolding was clearly the ‘bread and butter’ for the SCA Group, but this is by no means the limit to our expertise.

“Through SCA Pro-Tect, the SCA Group offers a unique specialist containment system designed to provide weather protection or to contain harmful contaminants.

“The system has been in development for a number of years and served its infancy in the dock yards, but now with UK and Europe wide coverage, SCA ProTect can provide a superior level of protection, previously unobtainable, to a multitude of different projects and applications.

“SCA’s success in these fields has never allowed the directors to take their foot off the gas and there remains an unquenchable thirst for continued success and expansion into alternative markets.

“Earlier this year, SCA Rope Access was introduced as an alternative source of access to difficult-to-reach areas. The division uses the most advanced rope system available, as well as highly qualified technicians to carry out painting, paint inspections and non-destructive testing, to name but a few.”

Steve was previously the managing director and owner of Bournemouth-based Accounting 4 Business, one of CIMA’s largest practices, which became part of Bright Star Group two years ago.

He previously worked with a number of high-profile companies in Dorset, including luxury boats manufacturer Sunseeker.

SCA is headquartered at 7 Crane Way, Woolsbridge Industrial Park, Three Legged Cross, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 6FA.