Nottingham badge manufacturer to expand with £1.2m funding deal

(L-R) Graham Mold (FDC), John Bancroft MBE (Badgemaster), Paul Bevan (Mazars)

A Nottingham-based manufacturer of bespoke name tags and badges has landed a £1.2m investment from Birmingham-based Frontier Development Capital (FDC).

The deal will see the business pursue further expansion plans, including added new director Ian Bradbeer FCMA to the existing management team.

Established in 1992, Badgemaster produces around 250,000-300,000 badges each month for more than 30,000 customers, with approximately five million people wearing its badges every day. The business counts Harrods, Selfridges, Waitrose, John Lewis, Boots, Nandos, Thorntons, Virgin Atlantic, O2, Centre Parcs, Costa, Easy Jet and Premier Inn among its clients. In 2006, the firm was awarded the Royal Warrant for its work supplying badges to the staff of the Royal Households, achieving worldwide recognition.

John Bancroft MBE, managing director at Badgemaster, said: “Badgemaster is built on strong customer loyalty and a track record for delivering quality badges at competitive prices. Being able to provide our clients with an extensive range of products with a focus on customer service and quality has helped us to achieve continuous year-on-year growth. With this new investment from FDC, we can plan and prepare for the next exciting chapter in Badgemaster’s story. We want to ensure that the business continues to improve, evolve with technology, invest in our staff and establish an even stronger management team to take the business forward in the years to come”.

Bancroft founded Badgemaster with his wife Vicky in 1992, with the couple working from a portacabin. The firm now employs 88 people team at its manufacturing facility in Newstead, Nottinghamshire. Bancroft was awarded an MBE in 2013 for his services to business.

Graham Mold, senior investment director at Frontier Development Capital, said: “Badgemaster is a hugely successful family run family business built on strong foundations and values. Their ability to act as a one stop shop for all types of product is a major differentiator, and their focus on quality and customer service is second to none. We are delighted to be involved in the next phase of the Badgemaster growth story.”

Paul Bevan of Mazars, who advised on the deal, said: “John and Vicky have worked tirelessly over the last 25 years to establish a wonderful business and it has been a pleasure helping to secure this latest round of funding, which will allow them to develop the business further. Excellent support from FDC.”

Freeths and Nelsons provided legal advice for FDC and Badgemaster respectively.

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