Work started this week on expanding the Great Yarmouth base of one of the UK’s fastest-growing SMEs after staff voted to retain its head office in the town.

Builders moved into Bateman Groundworks’ HQ at Marine Park, Gapton Hall Road, to start the first £150,000 phase of transforming a part of its head office that is currently used as a warehouse into 1200sq ft of new offices.

As its staff grows, a second phase will start next year adding another 1500sq ft to the company, named last month among the London Stock Exchange’s 1000 Companies to Inspire for the second consecutive year after enjoying 30pc year-on-year growth for the last three years, with predictions for similar growth this year.

The company, which employs 180 staff and has a £17.5m turnover, committed to remain in Yarmouth earlier this year rather than move closer to Norwich, where much of its work is near.

Last month it revealed it was looking to recruit 40 new staff and had won four new contracts worth £14m for housebuilders on developments across Norfolk.

Managing director Richard Bateman said now the company’s future in Yarmouth had been decided, the staff’s working spaces would be remodelled.

“Currently the space here is two-thirds office accommodation and a third warehouse and workshop. We don’t use the warehouse and workshop so we are converting a warehouse to create another 1200 sq ft on office space and revamp and freshen up the rest of the building.

“In 18 months’ time, we will be able to bolt on an extension to give another 1500 sq ft of office space, which is what we will need in two years’ time.

Mr Bateman, who set up the business 19 years ago, said expansion meant more office-based staff as well as site staff.

The building work is being carried out by Yarmouth firm Elm Contracts, which refurbished the office when Bateman moved in in 2012 from Riverside Road, Gorleston, it was based for its first 14 years.

Bateman Groundworks provides groundworks and civil engineering for blue chip house builders.