Pettit Singleton Associates (PSA) announces the retirement of Director Steve Pettit after 36 years of service. Jimmy Dobson, who has served as Director and co-owner alongside Steve for the past 15 years, will continue to lead the company, ensuring a seamless transition and continued growth.
The company has been methodically preparing for this transition, with systems in place to maintain business continuity and succession planning to continue the exceptional service clients have come to expect from PSA.
Steve established the business in Preston in 1989 with his wife Barbara (née Singleton) after leaving his engineering role at the NHS. Frustrated by the industry’s focus on profits over people, they set out to start a consultancy that prioritised client experience and ethical practices. This vision has been the cornerstone of PSA’s success for more than three decades.
During Steve’s 36 years and Jimmy’s 24 years, PSA has delivered exceptional solutions and established long-standing relationships with key clients across North West and beyond, especially in the public sector.
“The core values that fuelled PSA’s inception and which I have seen develop over my 24 years at PSA remain stronger than ever as we move into this new exciting chapter,” said Jimmy Dobson. “We remain committed more than ever to providing excellence in building services design for our clients.”
The company has demonstrated remarkable growth and stability, expanding to well over 40 employees in 2024—a 33% increase from the previous year—while achieving a 10% increase in revenue. With another 10% increase in new employees this year, PSA are as one of the regions most well-respected building services compliance, sustainability and design companies.
PSA continues to be a fulfilling workplace with an impressive staff retention rate exceeding 93% and nearly 3,000 hours dedicated to training engineers last year.
With an investment of £280,000 in IT, technology infrastructure and training, PSA is well-positioned for continued success and innovation. The company looks forward to building upon the strong foundation while embracing new opportunities in the evolving construction services.
Timothy Grover, senior associate solicitor in Harrison Drury’s corporate team, said: “We were pleased to advise the team at PSA on this important transition. With clear succession planning and an unwavering focus on client service, the firm is well-placed to continue its upward trajectory under Jimmy’s leadership. It has been a privilege to help secure the future of the business, and we extend our best wishes to Steve on his well-deserved retirement.”
Preston based accountancy practice WNJ advised on the restructuring deal. Partner Michael Barker, who led the WNJ team, said: “We have long and extremely strong relationship with PSA and were delighted to assist in securing the future of the business.
“The successful completion of the process reflects the shared vision among all parties to move the company forward.
“Our multi-disciplinary team was involved at all stages of the process, helping to ensure a smooth transition.
“We look forward to the next chapter of the company’s development story and will continue to offer our advice and support to the business as it embarks on its growth journey.”
