Specialised Covers speeds ahead with growth

A YORKSHIRE designer and manufacturer of covers for vehicles ranging from caravans to Formula One cars is planning further expansion after almost doubling staff numbers over the last 12 months.

Specialised Covers, based in Shipley, West Yorkshire, has also undergone a re-branding exercise and launched new product lines.

The family-owned company has increased staff numbers from 24 to 45 over the last year and has also agreed exclusive supplier deals with Bentley and McLaren, as well as maintaining similar deals to provide covers for Audi, Lotus and Morgan.

Established in 1981, Specialised Covers manufactures car, caravan, motorhome and motorbike covers and has become the UK market leader in its field.

The company turned its exclusive fabric technology to caravans in 1995, becoming the first to offer tailor-fitted covers.

Specialised Covers has also now launched towing protectors and towing skirts, which protect caravans from stone chips and other damage during transit.

It is also developing designs for mobile phone covers using excess material which would otherwise have gone to waste.

Elliot Long, managing director of the company, said: “The past 12 months have seen us go through a massive growth spurt and the re-brand is a great way of consolidating our position.

“We previously had a number of sub-brands for the different markets we operate in. The technology and techniques we apply to a Bentley cover are the same as those we use for caravans, so it made sense to include everything under the Specialised Covers brand.

“Our products are innovative, tailored and it’s all about the protection.”

Specialised Covers was founded by Mr Long’s father, Douglas, when he was looking for a way to protect the paintwork of his new Ferrari.

He bought some fabric and tailored it into a fitted cover for the car. Fellow Ferrari enthusiasts then commissioned him to create covers, before BMW handed him his first big order and the company was born.

Mr Long, who has been managing director of the company for around four years but involved in the business for many more, said the recession has had little negative impact on the company because demand from private consumers was strong and because many caravan owners were retired they had disposable income to invest in holiday accessories.

Mr Long said Specialised Covers had plans to extend its manufacturing site.

Elliot added: “Both the car and caravan sectors are hugely important to us, and both areas inform the development of one another.

“The great thing about this business is that it constantly evolves as the models of car, caravan and motorbike change. We get to work up close with some of the most exciting new vehicles before they have been released publicly.

“One of those is a new British supercar called the Arash AF-10, with our cover set to be pulled from the car when it is officially unveiled at the MPH show in November.”

Other future developments for Specialised this year include the launch of a new ecommerce website which will allow car, caravan and motorbike enthusiasts to view and buy the company’s full range online for the first time.