A £100M building services business, Syncro, which has a regional centre in Newcastle, has been created by the Co-operative Group to harness its expertise in engineering services, retail equipment supply and energy management.

It brings together three of the Co-operative Group's former trading arms, CWS Engineering Services, CWS Scales and CWS Energy and Transport - to create a leading force in the UK building services sector.

Syncro, which has premises in Blandford Square, employs about 600 in the UK and is headed in the North-East by director of facilities management, Bob Hedley.

The organisation has taken over responsibility for existing Co-operative Group clients, which include a range of customers, from McDonald's to the British Airports Authority and Her Majesty's Prisons.

"The creation of Syncro is a radical step for the Co-operative Group and is designed to focus our breadth of skills and experience in a highly competitive market place," said Mr Hedley.

"We have established a trading philosophy built around co-operative principles of openness, honesty and responsibility, and we are now looking for clients who value working partnerships and the project management skills we have to offer," he added.

The new organisation provides a broad range of expertise and specialist services including heating, ventilation and electrical installation, building maintenance, a one-stop shop for retail design and equipment, energy supplies and management and vehicle supplies.

Syncro's senior team is headed by managing director Trevor Webb, formerly head of the Co-operative Group's engineering services business. The Co-operative Group has an annual turnover of £4.7 bn.