Casting his eye elsewhere, he began to invest in property and the stock market, as well as winning the sole importation rights for a popular range of toys. Meanwhile, by 1990 the family business had grown to 600 employees – but Harvey could see that it had far more to offer, and initiated a carefully planned five-year programme of acquisition and the launch of new services into niche markets. By 1995, the company – Blue Diamond – had expanded to 1500 employees, and was ready to take on a competitors with multi-million pound turnovers.

The big breakthrough came in 1997, when Harvey won the cleaning contract for the Jubilee Line. New services and working practices rapidly led to a series of contracts with
other rail and station operators. Then in 2003, the acquisition of Comatec enabled the company to expand into the educational market – increasing turnover from £15 to £35 million at a stroke.

Further acquisitions followed – and today Harvey Alexander controls a portfolio with a multi-million pound turnover, 5000 employees, and businesses in the security, landscaping, property and labour provision markets.