THE fit-out wing of Belfast building firm Gilbert-Ash has secured another contract to refurbish a British Embassy.
The firm will help convert the former Dutch Embassy in Budapest, Hungary, in a project worth £2 million.
Gilbert-Ash has carved out a niche working for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and as such, the contract marks the 40th country in which it has collaborated with the office.
Over the past quarter of a century, the firm has completed projects at British embassies,consulates and British High Commissions in countries including Australia, Dubai, Cuba, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Guyana, Japan and Bahrain,.
The latest project is due to begin in July.
It will involve the refurbishment of the existing Embassy building, replacement of all services, remodelling to the new layout. Security measures and access points will also be upgraded.
Gilbert-Ash is currently working on several other projects for the FCO in countries across the world.
It has just completed the British Consulate in Marseille and will soon handover a £5.5m refit at the British High Commission in Colombo, Sri Lanka, which will also include the offices of the European External Action Service (EEAS).
Gilbert-Ash Fit-Out general manager Andrew Whitten said: “We have worked alongside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for many years and that partnership has opened up fantastic opportunities for our teams to work all over the world.
"To secure the Budapest British Embassy project and begin work in our 40th country with one client is a great achievement and demonstrates our ability to export our services successfully to new markets.
“UK embassies and consulates are very high profile projects as they represent the ‘public image’ of the UK in the host country. Many of the embassy buildings occupy prestigious historical buildings and therefore require specialist skills in heritage and restoration.”
