A Gloucestershire business has made a big investment in new office and warehouse space at Longhope Business Park to help it fulfil ambitious growth plans.

Workplace Interiors Co is a dynamic group of brands specialising in the commercial interiors industry, with a head office in Shurdington.

It was started in 1993 as a ceiling business by Gary Hough, a ceiling fixer by trade. As the company grew, sons Max, Ben and Sam joined the business, along with other family members.

Now Workplace Interiors Co has more than 60 staff at three locations around the county and a turnover of £14 million.

Currently, 70% of the business is ecommerce, with the contracting space making up the remainder. The company has set its sights on growing this sector by 25% and the new warehouse in Longhope is designed to help achieve that.

Max Hough showed Punchline-Gloucester.com editor, Mark Owen, around the company's new 20,000sq ft workspace.

Originally planning to take a 10,000sq ft space, the company opted for double that size to help futureproof the business.

Unsurprisingly, Workplace Interiors Co carried out all the fit-out itself - with 20% office space and 80% warehouse space. Not only is it a really good working space - it also serves as a showcase of what the business can do for its clients.

Max said: "We have the same challenges that other clients do across Gloucestershire. We're trying to create more of a hybrid style of work, which is very much what we sell and promote.

"We are solving the challenges a lot of companies are having around space. As we know, the cost per sq ft is very expensive now, so it's about making sure clients have the best use of space. For us, this is solving the challenge to get teams working together."

He continued: "Five years ago, we launched Gravity Office Interiors, creating a brand that could offer a complete office fit-out, refurbishment and furniture specialist. From planning through to design and build, all work is completed in-house, basically offering a one-stop-shop for business interiors."

Clients include Gloucestershire Constabulary, Montpellier Legal and Suntory, to name but a few.

Max said: "When people are looking at premises and units they want to move into, commercial agents are very helpful, but actually it's the client and the tenant who need to know what kind of space they need. I think a lot of people get it wrong, especially now we've changed and evolved into more of a hybrid style of work."

The company uses real data about an organisation's space occupancy and usage to deliver a workspace that works for them to increase productivity and avoid wasting costly space. Using this data, the experienced team can work out the exact space each worker will need to keep them happy and engaged.

He concluded: "Post pandemic, 30% of people would rather work from home. We help give them a reason to come back."

For more information, go to www.workplaceco.co.uk or call 01242 395216.