Garden furniture business becomes employee owned

Garden furniture specialist Bramblecrest is the latest South West company to become an employee owned business.

The Gloucestershire firm, which employs just under 60 staff, said the majority of shares in the company were now held by a newly established employee ownership trust.

The Stroud company said the sale, financial details of which are not being disclosed, would allow the business to remain independent and sustainably financed.

Bramblecrest was founded by Hugo Douglas-Pennant and Martyn Bell in 2000.

The duo will keep a minority stake in the business and said they were planning to remain active directors throughout the transition.

The pair said: “We are working to ensure that the growth and success we have benefited from to date, is the foundation for further expansion in the years to come.

“It’s therefore business as usual as we focus on continuing to do what we do well.”

They added they hoped the move would create fresh opportunities and a new energy at the company.