- Former Marlowe Fire and Security CEO Rob Flinn joins as chair
- Several acquisition targets are already in active discussion
- Manchester-based business has just under 100 staff across three hubs
Rockpool Investments has backed the buyout of Industrial Door Systems (IDS), a technical engineering services business that maintains and repairs commercial and industrial access equipment.
With Rockpool’s backing, IDS will pursue a buy-and-build strategy to consolidate the UK access equipment market. Rockpool lets high-net-worth individuals and family offices invest directly in private companies.
Jeffrey Barnett founded IDS in 1986. The company is headquartered in Manchester and has just under 100 staff working from three regional hubs in Manchester, the Midlands and London. Its engineers are on call 24 hours a day and are cross-trained across roller shutters, industrial and pedestrian doors, gates and barriers, loading-bay equipment and fire doors, so a single visit can cover a whole site. IDS holds CHAS, SafeContractor, ADSA and DHF accreditations.
Rockpool is backing the existing management team, led by CEO Claire Harrison. She is joined by sales director Darren Clarke, finance director Euan Henderson and operations manager Katie Willott. Rob Flinn will join as chair. Until recently he was chief executive of Marlowe Fire and Security Group, which Mitie acquired in 2025.
IDS will look to buy complementary businesses, prioritizing regions where it can build density and strengthen its nationwide coverage. The company describes the UK market as fragmented, with many regional specialists. It has already identified a pipeline of acquisition opportunities and is in active discussions with several.
Toby Hurdle, investment manager, and Ryan McTigue, investment associate, led the investment for Rockpool.
K3 Deal Advisory provided financial and tax due diligence to Rockpool and Claritas Tax advised on tax structuring. Winston Taylor was legal adviser and RPL provided commercial due diligence. Cyber DueDil, Consort Insurance and Continuum handled cyber, insurance and organizational due diligence respectively. Hurst Corporate Finance and Browne Jacobson advised IDS and its shareholders.
Editor’s note: This news brief was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence.
