Member Article

Band aid is helping uniform business look very healthy

The owner of a market leading uniform maker supplier is making great strides thanks to help from the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF).

Martin Gernon, is managing director of Centre Stage Uniforms, which provides outfits and uniforms for the Salvation Army and brass and military bands across the United Kingdom and beyond.

His business is going from strength to strength thanks to a loan he received from BEF to maintain the growth of Centre Stage Uniforms, based in Mytholmroyd.

Now, he is hoping to achieve an increased turnover of more than £600,000 and profits of £120,000 this year after moving into new premises, thanks to support from BEF, which offers loans and assistance to entrepreneurs who have been turned down by the banks and is supported financially by the European Union.

“My background is in textiles and the business started off in a room in my house,” Mr Gernon said.

“Now we are a market leader and employ three staff here, while the uniforms are produced in China.

“I got involved with BEF at a time I needed to move to larger premises. I got no support from banks and took my plans to BEF and they said ‘yes’.

“That was 16 months ago and without them I don’t know what I would have done,” added Mr Gernon who also receives mentoring from BEF as part of the agreement.

Meg Heath, BEF deputy fund director, said Centre Stage Uniforms is a prime example of the sort of business needing help.

“The business has a lot of potential, but without the funding for new premises that BEF provided, it would not have been able to move forward,” she said.

“Now Centre Stage Uniforms is performing very well and exporting around the world; we’re sure the business will go from strength to strength.”

To find out more about how BEF can help businesses and entrepreneurs go to www.befund.org, call 0845 2003919 or e-mail info@befund.org. Follow BEF on Twitter at @be_fund

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