The business path which took Neil from Rugby library to the Royal Households
Recent growth figures reveal that the borough of Rugby is going from strength to strength as a business base.
The borough is a go-to location for business growth - and that reputation is due to companies like bespoke furniture-manufacturer NEJ Stevenson.
You can say that a business is probably doing okay when its client-list includes the Royal Household and the Vatican. That is the case for NEJ Stevenson, based at Warwickshire County Council-run Church Lawford Business Centre.
The firm, started by Neil Stevenson in his father's garage in 1984, has held a Royal Warrant since 2003. It now boasts a clientele including the National Trust and English Heritage and which received another illustrious entry last year when the Galileo Foundation, on behalf of Pope Francis, ordered an intricately-carved staff as a gift for the Archbishop of Canterbury.
It is an eye-catching story and, in some ways, a glamorous one. But as with most successful businesses, its origins are far from glamorous; a lot of hard work, some initiative - and some help from the good old local library.
"When the first recession hit, we'd been in business for six years," recalls Neil. "We faced a decision - we either had to go upmarket or down. We decided on the former.
"So I went to Rugby Library, found the Yellow Pages for Inner and Outer London, photocopied the pages of all the interior-design companies and rang them all. I got knock-back after knock-back but also some interest, and from that came our first repeat customers.
"Then one day out of the blue came a call from Windsor Castle. They wanted some display cases for the Master's Gallery. We did the job and delivered on time and they were really surprised. They said: 'Nothing is ever delivered on time!' Craftspeople can be like that, because they have limited resources, but it's something we have always taken great pride in.
"Then we started receiving orders from other areas of the Royal Household and, after ten years, applied for a royal warrant. I was a bit unsure at first because we didn't want to seem elitist, and also it might suggest we were too pricy. But it's a wonderful association to be a part of."
Such esteemed company was far away in the early days of slogging round county shows and craft fairs in search of customers. But perseverance paid off as Neil had the craft skills and determination and, when he employed his father Alan, the business skills to progress.
"Dad had the business expertise which I very much needed," Neil said. "I became a furniture-maker by training and a businessman by accident. Making furniture was the easy part - I knew nothing about the business stuff."
Neil is the first to admit that he wouldn't have got far without the support of his wife Fiona who is now the company's finance director. Fiona had the regular income in the early days that enabled him to keep going.
More than 30 years later, the company has, in growth terms, travelled far and now employs 34 people. But physically it has not travelled far at all. Originally based at Wolston Business Park, it is now a long-term tenant of the county council's Church Lawford Business Centre.
"It is the perfect base for us," said Neil. "Over the years we have expanded into bigger units for the space we need, and the central location with access to the motorway network is perfect."
All the better for distributing goods to customers, of whom one of the most courteous to deal with is the Royal Household.
"They are the most pleasant and respectful of people," said Neil. "An absolute pleasure. It annoys me when people knock the Royal Household because so much of the money they spend goes to small businesses and British craftsmen. They alone have probably kept some skills alive."