Member Article

£250,000 investment & London expansion for Vantage

Leeds-based interiors specialist Vantage has invested more than a quarter of a million pounds in the fit-out of its premises, in readiness for 25% revenue growth and its 40th year in business.

Established in 1977 as a commercial plants company, Vantage has grown to become a 13-strong, £1.8m turnover organisation, supplying a range of interior greenery and luxury refreshments solutions to more than 400 clients throughout the UK. Its customer-base includes national and global brands such as JCT600, Virgin Trains East Coast, Holiday Inn and property giant Savills.

But as Vantage prepares for its milestone 40th anniversary and the next phase of expansion, there seemed no better time to refurbish its 11,000 sqft site and provide a more stimulating space for staff to work.

A £210,000, six month re-fit project has therefore been completed by Sheffield-based Dale Office Interiors, with creative influence by Bedale firm Spatial DDB.

Agile working space, complete with turfed floor and optional standing-height desks, has been designed to boost employee productivity, collaboration and wellbeing. There’s also a glazed boardroom, more informal meeting booths, fresh washroom facilities, a purpose-built kitchen area, new reception and state-of-the-art furniture throughout.

Elsewhere there is a new ‘engine room’ – the hub of business operations – which allows production, warehousing and office staff to collaborate on client projects. One of the other stand-out elements is a mood-lit tunnel which leads to an interactive product gallery – a space which enables clients and visitors to experience everything from Vantage’s bean-to-cup commercial coffee machines, through to the statement green walls, made entirely from plants.

Commenting on the planning that has gone into this project, Vantage’s managing director Robin Edwards said: “We’ve been based at this site just off Kirkstall Road since 2013 and, whilst we’ve experienced 13% growth during this time, we’ve always had the vision to do more with the space. This was admittedly a complex assignment, not least because of the curved walls and circular structures throughout the scheme. But, we encourage our clients to be different to create impressions, so it was important that we emulated the same philosophy.”

To further support Vantage’s ongoing development on a nationwide basis, the team has invested an additional £40,000 in the fit-out of a second, smaller showspace in Clerkenwell, the design capital of London. Shared with premier design and installation firm Maxwood Washrooms, Robin believes this permanent presence on Farringdon Road will prove the catalyst for even greater growth.

“We’re no strangers to this internationally renowned creative district,” he said. “Clerkenwell Design Week is a firm fixture on our calendars, and, with many of our customers, architects and interior fit-out partners based in the South, we’re frequent visitors to this part of the capital city. But with such vast market potential here it’s crucial that we cement our truly nationwide profile as we plan for our next 40 years in business.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Katie Mallinson .