A fast-growing family-owned engineering business based in Ipswich has bought up another company in the sector.

JMS Legacy of Ipswich - which started life with a fax machine on the founding couple's landing - has snapped up Wickham Market-based GC Robertson.

Daniel and Anna-Maria Staines founded JMS Consulting Engineers in 1997 and the business - based at Brightwell Barns - now employs more than 50 staff all over the UK and enjoys a turnover of £4m.

GC Robertson - a £300k turnover company - will remain in Wickham Market with its six-strong workforce.

It was founded in 1974 by the late Graham Robertson and is now run by John Davis.

JMS Legacy supports businesses across the construction and environmental sectors. GCR provides engineering advice and has an "incredible reputation", said JMS.

The deal will secure GCR’s future and allow it to grow - as the firm will benefit from JMS's team of engineering specialists and consultants and its established software and business management infrastructure, JMS said.  

JMS Legacy was founded in 2014 as a way to expand and manage the family's growing portfolio of businesses and create a legacy for the family to inherit. It is now the majority shareholder of nine companies all of which are growing.

"With 50 years of successful history, the moment has arrived for GCR to join hands with JMS," said bosses at GCR.

Its business had been defined by its "unwavering dedication, and a steadfast commitment to clients, they added. "This collaboration marks the threshold to a new era of growth and a convergence of capabilities and a shared vision." 

Daniel Staines, chief executive JMS Legacy, said the acquisition was an "important milestone" for the business and its aim of providing a comprehensive spectrum of engineering services.

"This collaboration represents a significant step forward for both us and East Anglia," he said.

"We are ready to capitalise on the growth prospects thanks to GCR’s formidable expertise and their strong local reputation in Suffolk." 

Director Anna-Maria Staines also welcomed the deal.

“JMS continues with its commitment to building a legacy in the construction and environment sectors. We look forward to opportunities to work with and to continue to expand our portfolio of businesses across the construction industry and beyond," she said.

GCR's expertise spans residential, commercial, and industrial structures, with a special focus on historic and timber-framed buildings. Its services include structural engineering, geotechnical investigations, foundation design and structural engineer's reports.