TWO Bury brothers who launched their quantity surveying practice from their homes have now opened the door on a thriving and successful business.

Five years after Peter and David Vinden established The Vinden Partnership (TVP), the firm now commands an impressive £2 million turnover and employs a 35-strong staff.

Based in Bolton, TVP is appointed to provide quantity surveying services to clients all over the UK as well as helping solve thorny construction disputes.

Peter (37), said: "The refurbishment of 250 branches of the Woolwich Building Society, new golf clubs, factories, office blocks and other projects worth millions of pounds all over the UK have been handled by our practice."

TVP has also set up a flourishing office in Nottingham where Peter studied at university.

Before both brothers decided to work together, David (41), was a partner in a private firm of quantity surveyors while Peter worked as a director of a large construction company.

"We both trained in the same field, so when the opportunity came to work together we decided to take it," added Peter. "In the first year, our turnover was £60,000. Initially, we just concentrated on employing the right people and providing a very good service to our clients."

He continued: "A lot of our fee income is generated from advising clients who are involved in disputes as well as in acting as quantity surveyors on new construction projects."

Peter is a chartered quantity surveyor, a registered adjudicator, an accredited mediator and a qualified arbitrator. He is often appointed to resolve complex construction law disputes.

The brothers were taught at Bury C of E High School. Later, Peter attended attended the town's Peel College before going to university in Nottingham and his brother to Sheffield University.

The Vinden Partnership are currently involved in one important project in their home town, involving the Bury Times.

They advised that instead of the newspaper group refurbishing its existing headquarters in Market Street, owners Newsquest should look at the development site as a whole.

Thanks to their advice, the Bury Times is constructing a new building on the car park adjoining its existing site.

Peter went on: "We've also been carrying out projects in Wigan, Oldham, Rossendale, Blackburn and generally all over the North West.

"But it is particularly satisfying to be involved in such a prestigious project in our home town."

The Vinden Partnership advises many of the household "blue chip" companies such as NatWest, The Royal Bank of Scotland, CGU, and Hermes, to name but a few."

TVP has also grasped the opportunities afforded by the Internet and has now set up its own web site on www.vinden.co.uk.

The company's presence on the world wide web showcases its activities and is particularly useful for foreign firms which have harnessed TVP's services and those who might wish to do so.

"We have clients in Luxembourg and Germany. We see our presence on the Internet as being a key to our future development.

"Because of our growing reputation for resolving disputes in the UK, we have subsequently been requested to advise foreign contractors working in Britain who are unfamiliar with English construction law," said Peter.

"At the same time, we are in the process of developing an extension to our web site to notify new and existing clients on legal developments in the UK construction industry.

"The Internet is being used as one of our primary marketing mediums."