Funding to Drive Expansion, Skilling and ESG-Focused Growth Across India
CLR Facility Services, a leading integrated facility management (IFM) company based in Pune, has secured $15 million (approx. ₹125 crore) in growth funding from British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution. The investment marks a significant milestone in CLR’s journey as it aims to scale operations, invest in workforce training, and enhance its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.
Strengthening Operations and Workforce Nationwide
Founded in 2002, CLR Facility Services provides a broad range of facility management solutions, including cleaning, engineering support, mechanical maintenance, and production assistance, catering to corporate and industrial clients across sectors. The company currently operates across nine Indian states, managing over 160 client accounts and employing more than 20,000 blue-collar workers.
With this latest capital infusion, CLR aims to more than double its workforce to 50,000 over the next five to seven years. The company’s focus will include increasing female workforce participation and hiring from underserved communities, particularly in tier-II and tier-III regions.
“This investment will empower us to create more opportunities for our workforce, drive innovation in facility management, and extend our impact across new markets,” said Gaurav Pathak and Gautam Pathak, promoters and directors of CLR Facility Services.
Focus on Vocational Training and Inclusive Hiring
A main part of CLR’s growth strategy is to establish vocational training centres in the smaller towns and cities to skill untrained and semi-skilled people, increasing employability and improving service quality. Right now, women comprise 25% of CLR’s workforce, and CLR is planning to build on this ratio as it increases its employment goals inclusively.
CLR is a well-known structured skilling model, hiring for social impact. CLR’s business model supports India’s wider national agenda to create jobs and skilling to expand the formal workforce.
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Industry Recognition and Previous Investment
This isn’t CLR’s first brush with institutional backing. In 2018, the company received its first external funding from First Bridge Investment Managers, which supported its early expansion efforts. Since then, CLR has evolved into one of the leading mid-sized IFM players in India.
The company competes in a rapidly expanding market alongside larger players such as BVG India, UDS, and ISS Facility Services. The Indian IFM market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 17% over the next decade, driven by increased outsourcing of non-core operations, urban development, and infrastructure investments.
BII’s Role in Enabling Impact-Driven Growth
British International Investment, formerly CDC Group, has a strong track record of supporting inclusive and sustainable businesses in emerging economies. BII focuses on businesses that promote gender equality, climate resilience, and community development, objectives closely aligned with CLR’s roadmap.
“We are proud to partner with CLR Facility Services in their mission to scale sustainably, generate quality employment, and upskill India’s future workforce,” a BII spokesperson said in the official statement.
As part of its mandate, BII aims to promote private sector-led development by providing long-term, patient capital to high-impact businesses in Asia and Africa. Its investment in CLR marks another strategic move into India’s high-potential services sector.
Looking Ahead: A Sustainable, Scalable Growth Path
With BII’s support, the company will expand its ESG endeavors further, including sustainability in operations and responsible labour practices. It also envisions the deployment of digital tools and automation in order to increase efficiency and compliance of facility management services.
The funding unlocks the company, and provides both financial heft and strategic legitimacy needed to further strengthen its position in a sector as it formalizes and demands more complex service delivery.
Conclusion
CLR’s successful $15 million funding round illustrates not only its strong fundamentals and inclusive business model but also growing confidence of global impact investors in India’s next generation of service enterprises. As the company scales, its commitment to skilling, diversity, and sustainability will be the benchmark for the facility management industry in India and beyond.
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