Kreston Reeves has won the prestigious annual Kent Corporate Finance Alliance ‘Deal of the Year 2025’ award.
The award, won jointly with the Kent law firm Brachers, was in recognition of its work with Orchard Plumbing.
The team advised Orchard Plumbing and its shareholder on its transition to employee ownership by way of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). EOTs are an increasingly popular way to ensure succession planning that prioritises employee participation.
The Kreston Reeves team was led by Corporate Finance Director Darren Hurdle, supported by Corporate Finance Manager Akshar Patel, Business Valuations Director Jodie Jones and Corporate Tax Partner Mohammed Mujtaba.
Darren said: “We are delighted to have advised Orchard Plumbing on its transition to an EOT. There are several very good reasons to exit a business in this way, including rewarding staff for their efforts in building the business by sharing in its continued success. We felt that, while this was a complex transaction, it was an important one to ensure the business remained local and supported by the long-standing employees that helped the business to grow.
“Winning this award jointly with Brachers is recognition of our combined focus on supporting the growth and development of local businesses in Kent.”
Founded in 1999, Orchard Plumbing has grown to become a substantial commercial contractor providing plumbing and heating engineering services to residential developers. Orchard Plumbing has a strong reputation for its expertise in high-rise and social housing development schemes, directly employing 32 people.
