British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, has invested $15 million (approximately Rs 125 crore) in the integrated facility management firm CLR Facility Services.
The capital infusion aims to support CLR’s nationwide expansion and workforce development initiatives.
Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Pune, CLR currently operates across nine Indian states. The company employs over 20,000 blue-collar workers and delivers facility management services including cleaning, engineering and mechanical maintenance, and production support to more than 160 corporate clients.
With this capital infusion, CLR plans to more than double its workforce to 50,000 employees over the next 5-7 years. The expansion will focus on increasing employment among women and underserved communities, aiming to integrate more individuals into the formal economy.
“Partnering with BII marks a pivotal moment in our journey toward inclusive and sustainable growth. 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, in a statement.
A portion of the funding will also go toward establishing vocational training centres in Tier II cities. These centres will provide skill development opportunities to unskilled and semi-skilled workers, enhancing their employability and supporting long-term workforce growth over the next five years.
In addition to scaling operations, CLR is enhancing its environmental and social risk management systems, and improving health and safety protocols for its workforce. Currently, women make up approximately 25% of CLR’s employee base, and the company continues to invest in structured training programs focused on upskilling and inclusion.
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Shilpa Kumar, Managing Director and Head of India at BII, said, “In India, over 80% of the workforce, excluding agricultural workers, is in the blue and grey collar sectors that drive the country’s economic growth. As the UK’s DFI, we focus on supporting inclusive growth by enabling better job and training opportunities for underserved groups. We are delighted to support CLR’s vision, which is aligned with the Government of India’s initiatives in driving inclusive employment.”
The investment aligns with BII’s broader mission to build productive, sustainable, and inclusive economies. A founding member of the 2X Challenge-an initiative that has mobilised over $33.6 billion for women’s economic empowerment-BII has invested in over 1,580 businesses across 65 countries.
The institution has total net assets of $10.8 billion and has committed to allocating at least 30% of its new investments to climate finance between 2022 and 2026.