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From a one-man start-up to a multi-million-pound property services business
Arvag is a Kent-based property services contractor that has grown from a sole trader to a 120-employee business delivering refurbishment, fire safety and environmental services across the public and private sectors.
Read time: 3 mins Added: 11/11/26
A chance conversation that started it all
Daniel Dawkins has a natural entrepreneurial instinct and a determination to capitalise on every opportunity that comes his way. In 2009, while coaching his son's football team, a fellow parent asked if he could help with a pest problem. At the time, Daniel had founded a small pest control operation called A-Pest, choosing that name to ensure he appeared first in the business listings.
That conversation led to his first job and a mindset that would define the company's growth trajectory for years to come. Daniel says: "If a client needed something beyond pest control, I would say yes to the work and then I'd learn how to deliver it. That's how we grew."
This approach ultimately saw A-Pest evolve into Arvag, a multidisciplinary contractor delivering property refurbishment, fire safety compliance and pest control services across London and the South East. The £13.5 million turnover business serves local authorities, housing associations and private sector clients, and is on course to achieve revenues of £16 million in the year ahead.
Daniel Dawkins Managing Director, ArvagI never expected to become the size that we are now, but building genuine relationships with loyal customers is what sets you apart. Working for the MOD, for example, is very important to me. Helping to support our Armed Forces makes me very proud.
Scaling up with the right support
Arvag's relationship with Lloyds began in 2016 with an Invoice Finance facility, which provided early access to money owed in unpaid invoices. As the business grew and became self-funding, the relationship evolved. Since 2017, Lloyds Asset Finance has become central to the company's operations, enabling Daniel to invest in vehicles and equipment without delays.
Today, Arvag has access to approximately £1.5 million through a revolving credit line, completing between five and 15 Asset Finance deals each year. The business has also secured a commercial mortgage through Lloyds to acquire new premises, providing a permanent base for its expanding workforce.
"Having the Asset Finance credit line is game changing," Daniel explains. "Knowing I can fund and draw against that has helped speed things up massively. It's quick, it's seamless and it means I'm never waiting around when an opportunity comes up."
That speed matters in a sector where winning contracts often depends on demonstrating capacity. With 120 employees now on the books, including dedicated HR, health and safety specialists, and a bid-writing team, Arvag has built the infrastructure to compete for ever larger, more complex projects.
Daniel Dawkins Managing Director, ArvagWorking with Lloyds is perfect for me. They understand and appreciate my business. They're always at the end of the phone or email when I need them.
A family ethos driving future growth
Despite the rapid expansion, Daniel remains committed to the values that built the business. He says: "My business operates as a family. That ethos extends to our customers too. It's why people stay with us and why we keep winning repeat work."
Arvag is now targeting £40 million turnover by 2027, a trajectory that will require continued investment in fleet, equipment and people. Daniel is confident that the relationship with Lloyds will remain central to achieving that ambition.
Beyond funding, he values the introductions and connections that Lloyds has facilitated, describing the relationship as genuinely supportive rather than purely transactional.
Looking back at his journey from the football pitch to the boardroom, Daniel reflects on the risks he's taken, and the resilience required to get here. Known internally as "the lucky man", he's even had the phrase tattooed as a personal reminder. Recent major contract wins suggest that luck continues, including high-profile projects for customers including the RAF, Wates Property Services, Watford Football Club and Canary Wharf Group.
Danny Burton Relationship Manager, LloydsWorking closely with Daniel and the wider business gave us a clear understanding of their objectives and the importance of delivering a solution that aligned with their business ambitions. By taking the time to understand their needs and collaborating closely with colleagues across the bank, we were able to provide a seamless experience and achieve a positive outcome. It's rewarding to support business like Arvag at key stages in their growth journey and help them access the banking solutions they need to move forward with confidence.
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Invoice Finance facilities may be provided by one or more of Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Limited, Lloyds Bank plc and Bank of Scotland plc. Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Limited. Registered in England & Wales no. 733011. Registered office: No.1, Brookhill Way, Banbury OX16 3EL. Bank of Scotland plc. Registered in Scotland No.SC327000. Registered Office: The Mound, Edinburgh EH1 1YZ. Bank of Scotland plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration no. 169628.
Lloyds Bank Asset Finance, part of Lloyds Banking Group, is a member of the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) and complies with the FLA Business Code of Practice. Further information is available from the FLA at www.fla.org.uk.