Ansor-backed Complii Acquires Classic Lifts to Expand Building Compliance Services

Complii, a leading UK provider of building safety and regulatory compliance services backed by private equity firm Ansor, has announced the acquisition of Classic Lifts (Scotland) Limited, a Glasgow-based specialist in lift and escalator maintenance and modernisation. The deal, announced on May 6, 2026, marks a strategic expansion of Complii’s service portfolio to include dedicated lifts and escalators compliance.

While financial terms were not disclosed, the acquisition represents a full takeover of Classic Lifts, which has established a strong reputation for quality and reliability in planned preventative maintenance (PPM), reactive repairs, emergency call-outs, and installation works within the lifts sector.

Classic Lifts (Scotland) Limited operates primarily in Glasgow and surrounding areas, serving a diverse client base with specialist lift services. Complii, headquartered in the UK, offers a broad range of building compliance services covering water, air, fire, and electrical safety. The addition of lifts and escalators compliance enhances Complii’s position as one of the UK’s most comprehensive building compliance partners.

Sarah Dixon, CEO of Complii, described the acquisition as a natural fit: “Classic Lifts brings exceptional expertise and a dedicated team whose values align closely with ours. This acquisition reinforces our commitment to being the most trusted and comprehensive partner in building compliance.”

Operational continuity is a key focus in the integration process. Dave McColl, former owner of Classic Lifts, remains with the company as Executive Director and will support Complii’s acquisition strategy within the new lifts and escalators division. William Coleman, previously Operations Director, has been promoted to Managing Director to maintain leadership stability and service standards.

McColl welcomed the acquisition, stating, “Joining Complii offers our team access to greater resources while preserving the quality and customer focus that define us. We look forward to contributing to Complii’s growth and continuing to deliver excellent service.”

The acquisition aligns with Complii’s ‘buy and build’ growth strategy, following the recent launch of its dedicated lifts and escalators division. It enables Complii to cross-sell lift compliance services to its existing client base and bundle multiple compliance offerings, potentially increasing contract sizes and client retention.

From an operational perspective, Complii plans to integrate Classic Lifts’ services into its digital compliance platform, streamlining service delivery and enhancing emergency response capabilities. Cost synergies are expected through shared administrative functions and consolidated procurement.

The deal strengthens Complii’s market position, particularly in Scotland, and accelerates industry consolidation as competitors may seek similar acquisitions or invest in digital compliance technologies to keep pace.

Challenges include aligning operational processes, integrating legacy systems, and retaining key personnel and customers during the transition. However, the acquisition positions Complii to develop integrated compliance solutions combining multiple building safety disciplines.

Looking ahead, Complii aims to leverage Classic Lifts’ reputation to penetrate new client segments and enhance its digital compliance tools with lift-specific data and monitoring, reinforcing its leadership in the UK building compliance market.