MHA supports Manchester construction firm with move to employee ownership
September 3rd 2025
A longstanding Greater Manchester-based construction company has become employee owned in a move that lays the foundations for future growth.
Lowbury Construction, which is based in Cadishead, Salford, and specialises in civil engineering, utilities and building projects, has successfully transitioned to employee ownership via an employee ownership trust (EOT).
MHA’s corporate finance and tax teams advised the shareholders of Lowbury Construction on the sale of the company to the EOT. Our advisory team was led by tax director Hasan Hashmi and corporate finance partner Andrew Feeke, with support from tax manager Jack Swindlehurst and corporate finance manager Lisa Garfinkle.
Simon Nolan, senior associate in the corporate team at Myerson Solicitors, provided legal advice on the transaction.
Lowbury Construction, a family company that was established in 1975, works on projects throughout the UK for clients including local authorities, utilities providers and education clients.
Peter Flynn, who will continue to lead Lowbury Construction as managing director, said:
“We have been working with most of our customers year on year, some of them more than 40 years. We know what they value about our relationship is our commitment to quality, value and safety, and also our people who are committed to delivering successful projects time and again.
“In exploring our options for the future of the business, our ambition has always been to ensure continuity and, in doing so, protect the interests of our clients and our people. We felt that moving to an employee-ownership model was the best way to achieve this and we are delighted to have realised this ambition.
“Our clients can be assured their projects will continue to be led by our experienced management team and that our ethos of continually investing in knowledge, skills, and the highest levels of safety, remains as important to us as it ever was.”
Hasan Hashmi, tax director at MHA, said:
"Lowbury has built an outstanding reputation in the construction industry, being particularly well known for its specialism for delivering projects in complex and highly regulated sectors like energy, utilities, industrial and education.
“This transaction saw our tax and corporate finance teams working closely together to achieve our client’s objectives. We’re proud to have supported Peter and the team to secure the long-term future of the business in a way that protects the interests of shareholders, employees and customers alike."
Simon Nolan, senior associate, corporate, at Myerson Solicitors, added:
“This transition will help secure the long-term future and legacy of a well-established family business. We’re proud to have played a part in the next chapter of a Manchester success story.
“With construction now the fastest-growing sector for employee ownership – making up 14% of all EO businesses – it’s a model that clearly resonates with the industry.”
Lowbury Construction was founded by Peter’s late father Patrick Flynn. Its work in civil engineering and utilities sees it working on a wide range of energy and renewables, public realm, enabling works, flood defence and drainage, substation and utilities projects.
Its other construction activity sees it providing new-build, fit-out and refurbishment projects in the industrial, commercial and education sectors.
