Former CWO staff have been recruited to a new company, Szerelmey Conservation Ltd, that has been established by Andrew Bonner, a former Director of Cathedral Works Organisation (CWO), in partnership with the Szerelmey Group.

Under Andrew’s leadership, Szerelmey Conservation will continue the specialised preservation, conservation and restoration works previously undertaken by CWO, while continuing to expand the client portfolio.

Szerelmey Conservation has been enabled through the support of the Szerelmey Group and the new partnership will complement the extensive works currently offered by major London-based stone specialist contractor Szerelmey.

CWO, one of the country’s best known specialist stonemasonry contractors and conservators, went into administration in March. A company called Chichester Stoneworks Ltd was established by Adam Stone, a former Director of CWO, at its premises in Chichester, Sussex, to keep at least some of the business alive.

Adam is supported in his new venture by works supervisors from CWO Danny Rushman and John Rye. The Administrator had laid off 73 people, some of whom have been employerd by the new companies.

The former Managing Director of CWO, Bernard Burns, who had headed a management buy-out of CWO from the Geoffrey Osborne building group in 2006, moved to London stone specialist contractor Szerelmey as Director of Business Development after the Administrator was appointed at CWO in March.

CWO famously worked for the corporation of London on a number of projects, including the refurbishment of The Monument, which commemorates the Great Fire of London. CWO was also a Royal Warrant Holder, having worked on a number of royal palaces, and its Caen limestone restoration of the Quadrange at Buckingham Palace won the Repair & Restoration Award in the 2012 Natural Stone Awards. Three more of its projects were either highly commended or commended in the Stone Awards.

Szerelmey's new conservation company will provide an important addition to the extensive scope of works offered by the Szerelmey Group. Alongside project management in construction, hard landscaping and bespoke stonework, the preservation of historic buildings will remain a key area of focus for the new formation.

The incorporation of highly skilled and technically qualified management and staff from the former Cathedral Works Organisation will enable Szerelmey to take on a full range of heritage projects, from the small to the multi-million pound, either as principal contractor or specialist subcontractor.

The people from CWO are highly skilled conservation masonry craftspeople and bring dedication and knowledge to Szerelmey Conservation Ltd.