AN AYRSHIRE business has grown three-fold after pivoting its business model during the Covid pandemic.

Confida FM, founded by Lorraine Murray MBE, specialises in outsourcing cleaning, security and property services across Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Founded five years ago, the firm works with both commercial and public sector customers.

When the pandemic shocked the world and the first lockdown was announced in March 2020, Confida FM saw its turnover drop by 35 per cent almost instantly.

To help maintain its cash flow, the company decided to make a change in its operations and began to tap into new demand from clients in need of its services, including the Scottish Ambulance Services and the NHS and local authorities.

With demand for the firm’s services tripling, the business approached Bank of Scotland for support and received a six-figure funding package to help it expand and increase its working capital to help mitigate any potential cash flow pressures.

With the additional funding secured, the firm was able to create more than 100 new jobs and increase support for front line workers. The business also secured a host of new contracts and supported the NHS during COP26, delivering security services and CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) first responders.

Lorraine Murray, managing director at Confida FM, said: “Over the past five years, we’ve developed our offering across the UK and have become known for our high-quality service.

“Because of this, we were able to pivot our business model when the pandemic first struck and deliver vital services to a growing number of front-line clients.

“Making the decision to adapt allowed us to grow both organically and with new customers.

“We’re so grateful for Bank of Scotland’s support as this helped us to scale up and meet the extraordinary demand we’ve seen throughout the pandemic.”

John Fulham, relationship manager at Bank of Scotland, said: “Confida FM is an example of a business that displayed exceptional agility to improvise and pivot when the pandemic struck in 2020, and the changes made have enhanced the firm’s growth potential considerably.”