'Fantastic' Sir Frank Whittle Centre gives business the winning edge

"The Sir Frank Whittle Centre is such a fantastic base. The staff are really helpful and we have everything we need here to help drive our growth"

An award-winning SME in Rugby is continuing to grow after harnessing not only its own expertise but that of fellow businesses in the town.

Edge DPM, based at Sir Frank Whittle Business Centre, recently won the Best Small Business of The Year accolade in the Pride of Rugby Awards.

The award recognised the steady growth of the business which specialises in the design, supply, installation and maintenance of commercial catering and laundry equipment.

Incorporated in October 2012 by Kevin Geehan and Mark Shentall, Edge DPM first operated out of Worthing in West Sussex and a small office in Rugby. It moved into the Warwickshire County Council-run Sir Frank Whittle centre three years ago, since when the business has gone from strength to strength.

The burgeoning business has a client-list, including 71 care homes and more than 100 hotels, stretching from Inverness to Jersey. Its reach and reputation are widespread - established thanks principally to skills delivered over a long period of time in the industry both nationally and internationally.

"It was fantastic for the whole team at Edge DPM to be recognised with the award," said Kevin. "We based our entry on our growth over the last three years but also the way that we incorporate our business as much as possible into Rugby.

"Two businesses in other units at the Sir Frank Whittle Centre are working for us on care homes, another two are working on other projects and our accountants are in Rugby, so we have pulled six business together.

"I think there is a lot of expertise and skills on our own doorstep that people do not realise are there. One of the care homes we service wanted a fire alarm system and the company next door to us installs fire alarms. I know and trust them so passed on the contact. If people are in the neighbourhood they are not going to let you down, it’s all about working together.

"It has also really helped us that The Sir Frank Whittle Centre is such a fantastic base. The staff are really helpful and we have everything we need here to help drive our growth. Centrally located and easy for our clients to visit and understand our business".

Edge DPM's client-list is as diverse as it is far-flung. While many of its customers are care homes or hotels, there are also restaurants and retailers, a pharmaceutical centre and a castle - the magnificent Dunnottar Castle, one of the most spectacular places in the UK, in Aberdeenshire.

"We were asked by a company we deal with in Scotland if we would assist and design a new kitchen for Dunnottar," said Kevin. "We developed a new kitchen layout for them and used both 3D visuals and 2D plans to present our design and ideas to them.

"We have great designers, but plans are all very well for designers and architects to understand - customers want to be able see what they will be getting. That's why we have invested in software to give customers 3D visualisation of the designs and Dunnotar were an example of that.

"It s great for the business to have customers throughout the UK but we are also very pleased to have a strong local customer-base and are very keen to help more business and establishments in Warwickshire with their new kitchens or laundries."

* To find out more about the range of accommodation available within Warwickshire County Council's business centres, please call: 02476 796400 or email: eliotpark@warwickshire.gov.uk