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Thousands of people arriving in Aintree to attend this
year’s Grand National were pointed in the right
direction by a growing St Helens signage company.
The
Evolve Group also assists millions of shoppers every
day as its signs feature in stores across the country,
including Matalan.
Its
clients also include Poundstretcher, which is currently
undergoing a buy-out by Instore and the Evolve Group
has worked with the company from initial concept to
the complete re-branding of the chain.
General
Manager, Paul Davidson has taken the business from strength
to strength since taking the reins almost three years
ago and credits St Helens Chamber with playing a vital
role in the massive expansion.
“The Chamber’s contribution has been crucial
and we have worked very closely to take the business
to a new level,” said Paul.
The
company began when Frodsham Signs was formed in 1986
by Glynn Frodsham, operating in the old cottage hospital
in St Helens. As the company grew, it relocated to North
Florida Road on the Haydock Industrial Estate.
Glynn,
keen to take a back seat, recruited Paul who began a
major overhaul. “I took a close look at our competition
and realised that what was needed was a one-stop-shop
where customers could get the signage, design, digital
printing and installation from us without having to
go to several companies which can be very costly,”
explained Paul. “We even have surveyors who carry
out an initial survey.”
To
complement Frodsham Signs, Evolve Creative was set up
as the design side of the company, with Jazz Graphics
providing the digital arm, all coming under the Evolve
Group parent company.
“We have since seen a massive growth in all three
areas of the business as we now provide a complete service
for customers,” explained Paul.
In
the past two years, the company has recruited 30 people
and now has a workforce of 78, as well as dozens of
installation crews working 52 weeks a year to install
the signage for clients across the country.
The company, which boasts a £9m turnover, has
recently invested one and a half million pounds in new
equipment and work is now starting on a new 31,000 sq
ft site in Millfield Lane, Haydock.
“Within
weeks of being recruited by the company, I joined the
Chamber as I knew the benefits,“ said Paul. After
an initial discussion with Ken Tilston at the Chamber,
a full training and development analysis across the
company was carried out. “Ken worked very closely
with us to identify training needs and from there, a
training and development policy was implemented.”
The
company began to work towards IIP (Investors in People)
which it has now achieved and the Chamber also assisted
with SkillWorks. The company has recruited three Modern
Apprentices and operates staff rotation to enable employees
to job swap.
“Each
employee has a training and development plan and we
encourage staff to attend our local college,”
added Paul. “We couldn’t have achieved all
this without Ken and we are extremely grateful”.
For
more information on the Evolve Group, telephone on 01942
713103 or visit their website
Read success stories about
other successful St Helens companies
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