A NEW construction and interior fitting business in York has won a £450,000 contract.

Richard Brosenitz, 34, managing director of Urban Construction Interiors (UCI), which he formed in Escrick last September, has sealed a deal to fit out the interior for JD Sports at the new prestigious Westfield White City shopping development in London’s Shepherd Bush.

It is his sixth successful project for the sports shop chain in only ten months, and contributes towards UCI smashing its end-of-year turnover target of £1.5 million with four months to spare.

And, bearing in mind that UCI’s future workload totals more than £600,000, it is hardly surprising that Richard is pitching for it to become the New Business Of The Year in The Press Business Awards 2008.

The business, based in Skipwith Road, Escrick, not only concentrates on shop- fitting for the likes of high street giants JD Sports, Monsoon and Primark, but also takes on construction work from new build and refurbishment to factory extensions.

After 17 years working for Simpson’s Construction in Outgang Lane, Osbaldwick, starting as an apprentice joiner and ultimately becoming contracts director, Richard decided to strike out on his own.

Richard now employs ten people – having taken on three to help service the new contract.

He said: “Working closely with a network of carefully- selected professionals and contractors, from trade personnel, approved manufacturers and suppliers to architects and suppliers, means that we can appoint the right team for each project, confident in their understanding and commitment to our business and clients. Control is maintained at all times through the rigorous project management procedures we employ.

“All parties are supplied with detailed working programmes, providing a straightforward monitoring tool to aid communication between ourselves, the client and our sub-contractors and suppliers.”

Now he plans to achieve sustainable growth of 50 per cent each year for the next two years, while maintaining a target gross profit of 12 per cent.

Richard said: “Starting up on my own was initially an unnerving experience given that I had had only one employer for all my working years, but I felt that I was ready and the time was right. It is working out to be the best decision I ever made.”