Nick Hand won’t forget his 30th birthday in a hurry.

After all, it’s not every year you take full ownership of the company where you’ve worked for the last nine years.

Or, indeed, end up employing your Dad as one of the 12-strong staff.

But Nick has done just that after completing a management buyout of Drewlec Ltd, the electrical services and fire safety arm of Drewitt Group.

He’s acquired all the shares in the company which he joined as a Trainee Contracts Manager in 2011.

The deal, completed this month as he marked his 30th birthday, allows him to drive Drewlec forward as a separate entity.

However, the change of ownership does not affect how the business, which has an annual turnover of £1m, is conducted.

Its services, workforce and location – Drewitt House in Bournemouth where it has been based for more than 50 years – are unchanged.

Nick said both customers and staff, including his Dad, Kevin, 55, who is Qualifying Supervisor, are “very positive” about the news.

He was now looking to build on the “very strong foundations” laid down by the Drewitt family over many decades.

Nick, who was born and educated in Poole, said: “We have a great team, fantastic client base and a very resilient business.

“As far as our customers and staff are concerned, it’s business as usual with our focus remaining on providing exceptionally high levels of customer service underpinned by the core family values established by the Drewitts.”

Nick Hand (centre) with his Dad, Kevin (left) and Richard Drewitt.

Drewitt Group remains under the control of brother and sister, Richard and Gillian Drewitt, the fifth generation of their family to run the business.

Richard, 59, said there was some sadness that Drewlec would no longer be owned by the Drewitt family.

But, he added: “You have to do what is best for the business.

“As with any family-run business, succession planning starts almost as soon as the new generation takes over from the last.

“It became clear that the right decision for the future success of Drewlec was to look outside of the Drewitt family, handing over the firm to someone who understands and represents the strong family values established over the years.

“Nick is a long-serving member of the team and, under his stewardship and ownership, Drewlec will retain the Drewitt ethos and values that have underpinned the business since the beginning.

“He is experienced at the helm and will guide the company on the next phase of its journey.

“We wish him every success in the future.”

Gillian, 54, said the Drewitt Group would now concentrate on its commercial property portfolio.

It includes 30 industrial units in Ringwood Road, Bournemouth, as well as tenants at Drewitt House and other property interests in the conurbation.

Richard’s son, Alex, the sixth generation of the Drewitt family, also operates Drewitt Construction Ltd, a construction services company predominately serving the West Midlands.

Gillian added: “Nick began his career at Drewlec as a Trainee Contracts Manager in 2011 and has progressed through the ranks of the firm.

“The inevitable career progression for him was to lead the firm.

“We are delighted to be able to hand Drewlec to someone who has been so integral to the company’s recent success.”

The Drewitt Group was started as a father and son painting and decorating operation more than 140 years ago, by Charles Henry Drewitt and Charles James Drewitt.

In 1964, the group diversified and introduced Drewlec Electrical Services to complement its extensive construction operations.

Drewlec has recently won a major contract with Dorset County Hospital which will see the installation of an Advanced MX5 Pro fire alarm system across the whole site.

Following an 18-month installation programme, the completed system will have more than 4,500 devices connected.

It will include automatic smoke detectors, visual flashing beacons, alarm sounders and call point alarm activation buttons.

As part of the installation, a graphics system will be set up to enable users to see in real-time, on a large display screen, the location of any fire alarm event across the site enabling faster response times.

On install completion, Drewlec will then begin an initial 12-month servicing agreement to maintain the system.

Drewlec is also an authorised installer of electric vehicle charging points by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).

With a UK ban on new petrol and diesel cars set to be introduced from 2030 under the government’s green plan,  Drewlec aims to assist local authorities, private businesses and apartment complexes in an effort to build up Dorset’s electric car charging infrastructure.