Playforce a Leading UK Playground Equipment Provider Wins National Award
Playforce, a leading UK playground equipmentprovider based in Wiltshire, has walked away from the national finals of the British Small Business Champions (BSBC) award ceremony in London with two sparkling trophies – one for being Southern Area Champion and the other for being the National Winner for Manufacturing.
Organised by the Federation of Small Business, the ceremony was hosted by ITN news presenter Fiona Armstrong who said: “BSBC is a true celebration of dynamism in UK small businesses which pays tribute to the vision, leadership and focuses of the businesses involved.
Geoff Burch, one of Europe’s top business gurus and author of many highly successful business books, was one of the judges.
Businesses throughout the country that employ no more than 50 staff were invited to enter the six regional heats of the competition – Central, North, South, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. BSBC shortlisted the entrants and the regional judging panel then decided which entries were to move on to the next stage – an interview with the panel in which finalists had to give a five minute presentation followed by five minutes of questions.
Playforce became regional finalists for the Southern area and were invited to the London event. In the face of very strong competition from a wide range of businesses they managed not only to win the title Southern Area Champion but also to win the manufacturing category and come runner up to the overall BSBC winner.
‘We are absolutely thrilled with this result,’ said Managing Director Edward Webb who attended the ceremony with his wife Rachael, the company’s Commercial Director. ‘It is testament to how hard everyone has worked and to the passion we all share for improving the lives of children.’
The accolade is the latest in a hugely successful year that has seen Playforce achieve Beacon status and scoop the prestigious Wiltshire Business of the Year title.
Launched in March 1998 by Managing Director Edward Webb with the help of a £5000 Prince’s Trust loan, Playforce has grown and prospered phenomenally in the last nine years. From its relatively humble start as a one man, sole trader dream, it has developed into a multi-million pound concern that currently provides employment for 38 staff at its offices in Holt, Wiltshire.
The company’s consultative style and innovative products have improved the outdoor playgrounds of thousands of primary schools throughout the UK. Feedback from hundreds of teachers indicates the huge benefits that high quality, well designed and thoughtfully installed playground equipment products can produce.
“The school philosophy is to provide a stimulating environment and foster mutual respect and understanding,” said Amanda Lewis, head teacher of Greenhaugh First School in Hexham. “We believe our new Playforce playground equipment goes a long way to helping us achieve that.”
Rebecca Garratt, head teacher of Nonsuch School in Brimingham, recently bought an adventure playground and outdoor classrooms from the company as a thank you to the staff, pupils, parents and governors whose hard work had succeeded in getting their special measures status lifted after a poor Ofsted inspection two years before.
‘Before this playground equipment was installed the children had nothing but some old tyres to play on at lunch and break times,’ she said. ‘After a lot of research and consultation with pupils and parents we invited Playforce to come and design something fabulous and challenging – something that would satisfy as many needs as possible on a tight budget.
‘We all love the new playground equipment. The children literally beg us to use it but we have to stick to a rota because it’s so popular. The trim trail and ship climbing frame have helped develop so many of the children’s skills including problem solving, coping with the unexpected, using their imagination, social and physical skills and, most importantly, it has made their playtimes fun. What Playforce has done is fantastic.’
Speaking about the award ceremony, John Emmins, FSB Recruitment Chairman, said:
“I would like to congratulate all of our winners and I hope that all the finalists had an enjoyable evening. The Federation of Small Businesses is proud of the huge contribution that small firms make to British life. They employ over twelve million people and contribute fifty per cent of UK GDP. Their success underpins the UK economy and it is only right that the best from their ranks have their day in the limelight.”
