University demand helps furniture group grow

26th March 2012

A furniture group from Cheshire has hit new heights after securing major supply and installation contracts for new student accommodation projects.

Rosehill Furniture Group is expecting to hit a record turnover of £5.5 million this year, up from £4.5 million in 2010. The business has been able to service increased customer demand after receiving a six-figure working capital facility from Yorkshire Bank.

The support has helped the business, which has historically supplied churches and schools, win a number of new student accommodation installation projects this year, including Aston Student Village, Exeter University, University of Nottingham and Northumbria University.

The business has also recently completed projects in France, Switzerland and Germany.

Mark McKenzie, director of Rosehill, commented on the success: “The business is going through a real growth spike at the moment, with sales up 45 per cent in the past three years, primarily down to the increase in student accommodation.

“We have planned for further growth and the support of Yorkshire Bank has been valuable, helping us expand our portfolio and put plans in place for an ecommerce business later this year.“

Founded in 1982, Rosehill, based in Wilmslow, has two very distinct operating divisions. Rosehill Furniture Group supplies furniture to churches, educational institutions and buildings that have a need for conferencing furniture.

The second division, Rosehill Project Management, specialises in the design, manufacture and installation of contract bedroom and kitchen furniture for student and key worker accommodation, hotels and housing associations.

Mark Brady, business partner at Yorkshire Bank’s Bolton Financial Solutions Centre, which provided the financial support, said: “This is a great example of a business spotting a growth opportunity and taking advantage. The furniture supply side of Rosehill was successful in its own right, but the major success has been driven by the expansion to project management and installation. With plans for an ecommerce arm later this year, the future looks very bright indeed.”

The business has over 600 customers in the UK and Europe covering major construction firms such as Bovis Lend Lease and Bam Construction, as well as local authorities including Cheshire County Council and multinational hotel chains such as Hilton and Travelodge.

The company employs over 60 specialist personnel, including estimators, surveyors, project managers and specialist joiners from its head office in Wilmslow.

The project management business has installed over 22,000 kitchens and bedrooms while the furniture division supplies anything from church pulpits to banqueting tables.