AN ambitious firm has joined the "Premier league" of electrical contractors in England following a business deal.

The market place prominence comes after Southampton electrical and mechanical contracting company RF Webb and Son was sold to Lowe and Oliver.

The sale, for an undisclosed sum, by managing director Paul Stratford to the Oxford based group follows his successful management buy-out of the former family business in 2002.

Since then RF Webb and Son has continued to flourish, increasing its turnover by 15 per cent against the backdrop of a highly-competitive industry.

Established in 1932, RF Webb specialises in electrical contracting, heating, air conditioning and ventilation and has a specialist division in fire alarms.

The business is built on major contracts for commercial and industrial clients as well as hospitals, superstores and schools.

The company will continue to trade under the RF Webb banner and Paul Stratford will remain with the company as sales and marketing director to ensure a smooth transition for the business. A team from Southampton based corporate finance specialists Fanshawe Lofts, which also advised on the original management buy out, led by Rosemary Penn-Newman and Rebecca Shelley, project managed the latest sale.

Paul paid tribute to Fanshawe Lofts and financiers Lloyds TSB.

He added: "The sale moves the business into a different league, among the top 30 electrical and mechanical contractors in the country."