Over the last 18 years, the UK’s leading non-slip decking company has invested heavily in developing its product innovation and growing in new international markets and, after a lot of hard work, Gripsure has now established a manufacturing plant in Japan.

Mike says, “Gripsure is now recognised as a worldwide business and global brand, and we have benefitted greatly from the help and support of the Department for International Trade with this Japanese venture, which has helped us to realise our ambitions for the company.”

The journey to setting up a base in Japan began in 2019 when Gami, the owner of Ikegami & Co Ltd based in Fukuyama, Hiroshima, paid a visit to the UK to see first-hand a project at the University of Cambridge featuring non-slip Accoya decking and custom graphics. Gami was so impressed with the product and spotted an opportunity to launch Gripsure in Japan.

“In summer 2019 Gami visited our base in Cornwall, and we discussed his interest in producing Gripsure’s non-slip decking products under licence in Japan. Later that year I flew out to Japan to discuss the project in more detail and we met with the British Embassy in Tokyo,” adds Mike.

A few months later, in January 2020, an agreement was signed by Ikegami and Gripsure which allowed the non-slip decking products to be manufactured under licence locally in Japan and a Gripsure manufacturing plant was sent to Fukuyama, as part of the deal.

Mike says, “Of course, what happened next is well documented – the Covid 19 pandemic stopped the world in its tracks and when the plant arrived in Japan in April 2020, we had no choice but to wait until we could move forward with the project.”

Gripsure was unable to visit Japan and commission the manufacturing plant at this time, which inevitably resulted in a delay to the launch of the product. After months of ingenuity from both parties the Japanese plant is now fully operational.

“There was a real desire to make this work successfully. We overcame the language barrier and time difference to become experts in using video calling to help us virtually assist the team in Japan to build the plant,” says Mike.

Ikegami & Co Ltd had their first exhibition in March this year, and Mike Nicholson and Maxime Caroff, Director of Gripsure International, finally managed to visit Ikegami’s Japanese manufacturing plant in early October.

Gripsure also has a wholly owned French company and is planning to establish its non-slip decking brand in 12 more territories during the next five years.

Mike was recently appointed an ‘Export Champion’ by the Department for International Trade (DIT) and recognised as a successful exporter dedicated to helping inspire and encourage other British businesses to sell their goods and services internationally.

Mike says, “We hope that by raising the profile of our partnership with Ikegami in Japan it will serve as a great example of what can be achieved and hopefully inspire others.

“As an Export Champion, I am dedicated to helping other companies explore the opportunities that international exporting provides and assist them to open in new markets around the world. I want to share our experience and knowledge with others and show how we turned our exporting ambitions into reality.”

Export Champions are an appointed community of business leaders that work in partnership with DIT. As volunteers, Export Champions often speak at or host export events, drawing on their expertise and sharing insight on their international sales experience to boost export capability.

Paul Shand, DIT’s Head of Trade in the South West says, “Businesses find it truly inspirational to hear from successful exporters like Gripsure – their insight and practical advice help businesses make the most of their potential to sell world-class goods and services internationally.”

Gripsure produces anti-slip decking for homeowners and commercial customers in the UK and across the world from its base in Cornwall and has a team of 18. It produces 250,000 linear metres of hand-crafted decking boards in Cornwall every year and has supplied decking to high-profile customers, including Center Parcs, Edinburgh Zoo, the National Trust, and Kew Gardens.

The company was recently awarded two internationally recognised ISO accreditations for quality management and environmental management systems. It also holds several certifications and memberships for its exceeding excellence in leading industry standards.

The UK’s leading non-slip decking company, based at Higher Bugle near St Austell, has been recognised as a successful exporter dedicated to helping British businesses sell their goods internationally. Gripsure produces anti-slip decking for homeowners and commercial customers in the UK and across the world from its base in Cornwall and employs 18 staff. The company, established in 2004 by managing director Mike Nicholson, is now one of the best-known decking brands in Europe.

It has a wholly-owned French company and a manufacturing partner in Japan and is planning to establish its non-slip decking brand in 12 more countries. Gripsure’s team regularly attends trade shows all over the world and is looking at further expansion with its products being manufactured and sold in North America, Australia, and Japan. Gripsure produces 250,000 linear metres of hand-crafted decking boards in Cornwall every year and is now recognised as a worldwide business and global brand.

Export Champions are an appointed community of business leaders that work in partnership with DIT to inspire and encourage more UK businesses to sell their goods and services to the world. The community is currently formed of over 400 business leaders across England, 30 of which are based in the South West. As volunteers, Export Champions often speak at or host export events, drawing on their expertise and sharing insight on their international sales experience to boost export capability.

Gripsure Managing Director, Mike Nicholson said: “Being made an ‘Export Champion’ by the Department for International Trade is a real honour and this achievement is testament to all the hard work put in by the whole team to make Gripsure the successful business that it is today. We are delighted to be part of this prestigious group of ‘Export Champions’ and to be able to offer advice, share connections and mentor others. We have benefitted greatly from the help of the DIT and expand into territories that might never have imagined when we were starting Gripsure eighteen years ago. We are now investing heavily in developing our product innovation and growing in new international markets.

“We are dedicated to helping other companies explore the opportunities that international exporting provides and assist them to open up in new markets around the world. We want to share our experience and knowledge with others and show how we turned our exporting ambitions into reality.”

DIT is the UK government department responsible for championing open and fair global trading that drives growth, creates better jobs and higher wages, and improves living standards in this country and around the world.

Paul Shand, DIT’s Head of Trade in the South West, said: “As influential voices in the business community, DIT Export Champions play a pivotal role in encouraging and inspiring more UK businesses to sell overseas. By sharing their experience and expertise, the network helps other businesses realise there is a global demand for their products or services and that whilst there might be some challenges ahead, there is help and support available.

“Businesses find it truly inspirational to hear from successful exporters like Gripsure – their insight and practical advice help businesses make the most of their potential to sell world class goods and services internationally.”

Gripsure will be exhibiting at a leading trade show Carrefour International du Bois in France in June and at the American Institute of Architects conference in Chicago later the same month.

With a fast-growing consumer market, Gripsure has supplied decking to high-profile customers, including Center Parcs, Edinburgh Zoo, the National Trust, and Kew Gardens. The company was recently awarded two internationally recognised ISO accreditations for quality management and environmental management systems. It also holds a number of certifications and memberships for its exceeding excellence in leading industry standards.

For information on how DIT can support your business to grow in new markets, visit www.great.gov.uk

The company, which manufactures anti-slip decking for homeowners and commercial customers in the UK and across the world, aims to create new habitats in Cornwall and re-establish woodland areas with the help of the not-for-profit community interest group, based in Helston. Gripsure is committed to planting one tree for every order that is placed with the company.

Cornwall has low levels of tree cover and one of the worst records in Europe, compared to other countries. The UK has an average of 13 percent of tree cover and Cornwall has only 9 percent, due to harsh weather conditions and historically high demand for wood in mining and shipping activities.

Rai Lewis, co-founder and managing director for Plant One Cornwall said: “Having the support of Gripsure is vitally important to the work that we do, it’s absolutely everything. If we didn’t have the backing of companies like Gripsure there is no way that we could plant more than 6,000 trees across Cornwall each year. The UK is in the bottom 12 of biodiverse wild spaces, so we really need to ‘up our game’, especially as we only sit above the most industrialised countries in Europe, such as Monaco. We plant trees because they have so many environmental benefits, we are trying to be a force of good.

“Because Cornwall has such a tough climate, it’s more difficult for trees to establish themselves. Many people don’t realise that the county is meant to be covered in trees – we should have a temperate rainforest or upland oakwood habitat and that is what, together with Gripsure, we are trying hard to reinstate across Cornwall.”

Gripsure has a long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability across all its business operations and was recently awarded ISO 9001 for quality management systems and ISO 14001 for environmental management.

Gripsure Managing Director, Mike Nicholson said: “This is not a token gesture or us jumping on the environmental bandwagon, we’re not just paying lip service – we are doing this for all the right reasons. We want to reduce our overall carbon emissions and we’re committed to striving towards the business becoming net zero carbon. We are continually looking at new and different ways to minimise our environmental impact across our activities, from working with sustainable FSC and PEFC certified timber to reducing waste. We aim to provide high-quality, environmentally sustainable products, and customer service.

“With the help of Plant One Cornwall, we can get more trees in Cornish soil and work towards increasing the UK’s canopy cover. We are passionate about supporting and helping to create local habitats and nurture native wildlife. We are absolutely delighted to be involved with the positive work that they are doing and look forward to joining the team on their tree planting days later this year.”

Gripsure and Plant One Cornwall are currently assessing several tree-planting sites in the county with the aim of getting new trees in the ground during the planting season between November this year and March 2023, dependent on weather conditions. The native trees, which will include Cornish and English Oak, Italian and Black Alder, as well as Wild Cherry and Willow, will be planted at a low density, mimicking already existing habitats enabling wildlife to thrive. These saplings or ‘whips’ have a higher resilience to climate change and absorb Co2 at a faster rate in the early stages of their growth.

Rai Lewis added: “We will really start to reap the benefits of these woodland areas in a short space of time. People will be able to walk under the boughs within ten years. The biggest and most immediate impact the trees are going to have is the valued resources they hold for wildlife. For example, an oak tree hosts 1,200 species of insects and birds for food and shelter and some flowering or pollinating trees will have an impact from two years of age.”

Gripsure manufactures non-slip timber decking from its base in Cornwall and sells it to homeowners and commercial customers across the UK and internationally. Now one of the best-known decking brands in Europe, Gripsure has a French company and a manufacturing partner in Japan and is planning to establish its non-slip decking brand in 12 more countries. With a fast-growing consumer market, Gripsure has also supplied decking to high-profile customers, including Center Parcs, Edinburgh Zoo, the National Trust and Kew Gardens.

We have been awarded ISO 9001, for quality management systems, and ISO 14001, for environmental management. ISO is an independent global organisation, which sets rigorous international standards across all types of businesses. Gripsure’s accreditations are in place for three years and include annual site visits from an ISO representative.

To achieve both accreditations, we had to demonstrate well-structured processes and problem solving across our operations, from designing and manufacturing new products to tracking and delivering orders. To achieve ISO 14001, we also provided detailed evidence of how we are minimising our environmental impact across our activities.

Gripsure Managing Director, Mike Nicholson, said: “Quality and environmental sustainability are the two values that Gripsure is absolutely committed to. We have always been passionate about consistently delivering the highest quality products and service to our customers. In recent years, we have also taken great steps towards environmental sustainability, from working with sustainable FSC and PEFC certified timber to reducing waste. We have now taken this a step further by signing up to a commitment of becoming a net zero carbon business.

“Gripsure already enjoys a strong reputation, with consistently positive feedback. Being awarded these prestigious international accreditations by an independent body, however, will give our customers that extra confidence in the quality and environmental sustainability of our products and services.”

Gripsure Finance Director, Robin Olver, added: “When we decided to go for ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 we knew we were already part way to meeting the ISO’s high standards. Taking those extra steps needed to achieve the accreditations meant building on Gripsure’s culture of problem solving, collaboration and continuous improvement.

“For us, achieving these two accreditations is not a tick-box exercise. The process has been genuinely positive and has given us the opportunity to bring together the vast wealth of knowledge and experience across our team.

“Being an ISO accredited business means providing consistently high quality, environmentally sustainable products and customer service. Our larger commercial customers will recognise these global accreditations, which demonstrate that Gripsure’s products meet the highest international standards.”

Gripsure donated 60 square metres of its non-slip sustainable Bamboo decking, which has created a visitor walkway through the enclosure. This is the new home for Moana and Fiera – Scotland’s only sloths.

RZSS is the wildlife conservation charity which leads Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park. Diverse and dedicated teams care for almost 3,000 amazing animals across both zoos and carry out cutting-edge science and research. RZSS wild experts support an incredible range of projects and direct conservation action, from the Highlands of Scotland to sloth’s native home, South America.

Mike Nicholson, Gripsure’s Managing Director, said: “We are proud to be a Supporting Partner of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. As a company that works with timber, we take our responsibility towards the environment very seriously indeed. We have been developing new and innovative ways for the company to make a positive impact so our partnership with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is an important step for us.

“We know that many of our customers share our ethos. That’s why we are committed to offering them a range of high-quality sustainable non-slip decking, both for commercial and residential projects.

“It is fantastic to see how our non-slip decking has helped to create a safe visitor walkway through this wonderful new home for Scotland’s only sloths. We are delighted to have donated our sustainable decking for this innovative new attraction, which introduces visitors to the wonders of South American wildlife.”

The decking is made from Moso bamboo, a fast-growing giant grass species which stores huge amounts of carbon in its vast root network. Research from Delft University has shown that timber produced from Moso bamboo is a net carbon sink over its life span, even taking into account the transport and manufacturing process.

All Gripsure decking is certified under the industry flagship standards of FSC and PEFC. These independent certification schemes show that the timber has been sourced from responsibly managed forests. Gripsure Bamboo has been developed as a more sustainable alternative to slow-growing hardwoods.
The exhibit also features Gripsure Graphics. Edinburgh Zoo has used this innovative new non-slip decking to create fun, educational messaging for visitors. Staff said Gripsure decking helped to establish the perfect environment for the new arrivals – and their fans.

“The decking featured in the main walkway flows incredibly well with the exhibit, allowing our visitors to walk right through and become immersed in the natural look and feel of the space, which is wonderful,” said Beccy Angus, Head of Discovery and Learning at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.

“As a wildlife conservation charity, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Bamboo was selected as a sustainable material both in the immediate production and in the future as it can be recycled. Gripsure’s generous donation has helped our charity create and deliver a first-class visitor experience within our new sloth building.”

After leaving University I knew I wanted to move back to Cornwall. I already knew Mike through gig rowing and he offered me some part time work in the resin surfacing business he had recently set up, Cornwall Specialist Surfacing (CSS). With Mike’s unwavering drive, determination and leadership, my practical approach to problem solving and an awful lot of hard graft from both of us and others, CSS grew and, out of it, Gripsure was born.

Since then, Gripsure has continued to grow and evolve and the same drive, determination and problem solving has seen Gripsure adapt to market trends and overcome many obstacles along the way.

Before CSS and Gripsure, I studied Sport Science and Swansea University and held a range of jobs including bar manager, gardening and farm labouring. These different experiences helped develop the tools I now use on a day-to-day basis: from dealing with members of the public and customers, to planning and scheduling my workload, and understanding the principles behind health and safety.

Being able to see an opportunity to improve a product or a process and having the autonomy to do something about it is definitely high on the list. The thing I would say I enjoy the most though is the interaction with the team. We have a fantastic set of people at Gripsure from all walks of life. They all have stories to tell and it’s remarkable to see what can be achieved when we all pull together.

We have recently launched two new products: Gripsure Graphics and DeckArt, which combine safety, practicality, imagination and fun. They allow customers to create unique, bespoke decking and are proving very popular. They were also recently shortlisted for a prestigious national award, the Innovation Award in the WPA (Wood Protection Association) Awards.

There are a couple more in the pipeline but they are firmly under my hat!

In 2012, with the help of a very tenacious knowledgeable from SWMAS, we revolutionised our production techniques and moved from batch production to line production. This allowed us to build the foundations to design and install our bespoke production line in 2018. This has had a huge impact on productivity, quality and – most importantly – the health and safety of our production team.

We are always looking to make improvements to what we do and how we do it. We are working on several improvement projects and have recently implemented some new processes. These include changing the way we deliver resin to our metering pump and increasing the number of aggregate hoppers on our production line.

My day typically starts with some ‘me time’ to reflect on the previous day and look ahead to what I have to do. After that, I am pleased to say that it is very rare for two days to be the same. I am usually working on improvement projects for production, R&D for existing and future products, driving Gripsure’s health and safety culture, promoting mental health and wellbeing initiatives and helping with marketing projects. I try to spend time each day in production to see how things are and if there is anything that can make life easier for the team.

I can often be found down in our workshop building something to test on our production line. These are what I would call my really good days!

Problem solving and a practical understanding of how things work play a massive part in my role. My interest in health, fitness and wellbeing really helps me to understand the principles behind health and safety practices and how these can be implemented in the workplace.

It is easy to single out my biggest achievement in my personal life. There is nothing that I am more proud of than my wife and children. In my career there are two stand out achievements: the design and installation of our new production line and obtaining my NEBOSH qualification.

If I were to single out one person who has inspired me the most it would have to be my Dad. He taught me from a very young age that there is no problem or situation which cannot be sorted with calm thinking and practical problem solving. He is a very kind man who would stop and help anyone who needed it, and he has always been a calm and steady source of wisdom.

I am a very outdoorsy person so spend any spare time I have cycling, kayaking, fishing, going out on our boat, camping or simply cooking over an open fire on the beach. I enjoy these activities even more when they are spent with family and friends.

Health and safety are a major driver for me. I don’t think anyone should go home from work in a worse condition than when they arrived. This has formed the basis of the health and safety culture at Gripsure. I also don’t like to ‘stand still’. There are always small improvements to be made to products and processes and I really enjoy playing a role in delivering those improvements.

Now in its seventh year, the WPA Awards showcase wood protection technology as a vital part of the timber industry. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 22 September in Coventry.

Sponsored by Impra, the Innovation Award recognises the creation of new ideas, new products and more effective ways of working. The finalists were chosen by a panel of judges made up of leading figures in the industry.

Gripsure was shortlisted for developing innovative production techniques to create two unique new products: Gripsure Graphics and DeckArt. Both are crafted from sustainable FSC and PEFC certified timber and feature the anti-slip features for which Gripsure decking is renowned.

However, for the first time, these new products offer customers decking boards incorporating a selection of attractive graphics and text.

Aimed at the commercial market, Gripsure Graphics has been used by Cambridge University, Bristol Zoo and Edinburgh Zoo. By allowing customers to create unique designs, it provides an innovative way to signpost visitors and communicate stories or information.

DeckArt is just one way in which Gripsure is responding to a significant increase in demand from homeowners. Designed for the residential market, DeckArt is manufactured using the same processes and equipment as Gripsure Graphics. It features a range of slogans, including ‘Life is better on the deck’ and ‘Home sweet home’, and decorative designs, such as paw prints and leaves.

To develop these new products, Gripsure secured funding from Acceleration Through Innovation 2 (ATI2), a project led by the University of Plymouth and funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The ATI2 programme is designed to support business innovation across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and assists small to medium-sized enterprises that are seeking to commercialise new opportunities leading to increased growth, productivity and sustainable change. With ATI2’s support, Gripsure also received advice and guidance from manufacturing specialists at SWMAS.

Gripsure Managing Director Mike Nicholson said: “Although the Covid-19 pandemic has been a worrying and challenging time for us all, we have experienced a surge in demand from both homeowners and commercial customers.

“The pandemic has encouraged many people to focus more on their surroundings and to appreciate the many benefits of enjoying nature and the outdoors. Our non-slip decking is designed to help people create safe and beautiful spaces so they can spend more time outdoors, whatever the weather.

“Both DeckArt and Gripsure Graphics give people the opportunity to inject some individuality and personality into their projects, creating something truly unique.

“I’m delighted that the team’s creative thinking and hard work has been recognised by us being named a finalist in the WPA Awards. I am also very grateful to ATI and SWMAS for their support in creating these new products. We are shortlisted alongside some really impressive firms and look forward to celebrating everyone’s achievements.”

Peter has made dozens of the popular garden troughs, which he then sells on Facebook.
The money Peter collects goes towards The King’s Village, a project in Northern Ghana, Africa. The charity provides healthcare, education and development to the country’s poorest communities.

Peter’s planters have so far helped to raise more than £3,000 towards a £150,000 target to build a new life-saving maternity unit in the area.

“I’m so pleased with how well the planters been selling,” said Peter, who approached Gripsure to ask if he could use our decking offcuts to help his woodworking project. “I’d been getting hold of old bits of wood and upcycling them for a while, but I needed some more. I put an appeal out online and someone suggested Gripsure, who were very helpful.”

Peter, who lives in nearby Cornish town St Austell, was invited to come along to Gripsure’s site, where staff helped him to fill the boot of his car with timber offcuts.

“I must have been back five or six times since,” said Peter. “The people there are all very friendly and helpful to deal with. When I couldn’t get all of one load into my car, one member of staff delivered it round to my house the following evening.”

Peter, who admits he’s a novice woodworker, said he really enjoys making his planters of various sizes – and is just about keeping up with demand.

“I’m not a professional carpenter – I was a minister in a church,” said Peter. “But I started doing woodwork recently and got to like it,” he added, explaining how he makes his planters. “I get hold of the wood and cut them to length and then join them together. It’s a case of glue and screw, really!

“I get a huge amount of satisfaction on the one hand of taking, what is in one sense scrap and turning it into something people want.”

Peter is planning to get hold of some more Gripsure waste timber soon to create some of the smaller wooden plant pots that are selling fast on his Facebook Marketplace page. His product prices range from £20 to £30.

Gripsure Managing Director Mike Nicholson said he was delighted the firm’s offcuts were being put to such good use.

“What Peter has been doing is fantastic,” he said. “Gripsure has a strong commitment to sustainability and this community project is a great example of what can be achieved with a little imagination and hard work.

“Every day we work hard to reuse and reduce any waste from the business. All our paper, plastic and timber offcuts are recycled. We really like collaborating with local craftsmen who upcycle our decking offcuts into beautiful and unique products.
“We’re also pleased that our family business in Cornwall has helped to play some part in helping communities in Northern Ghana.”

Like so many of the best ideas, Gripsure sprang out of a conversation on an ordinary rainy day. Back in 2004, I used to run a contracting firm for resin surfacing, along with Gripsure co-founder Ross. We’d just finished a job for Cornwall Council, which involved coating timber planks in a non-slip material to be used on the South West coast path.

One day, when it was too rainy for us to be working on the roads, we got chatting about how else we could use our non-slip expertise. That’s when we came up with the idea of using the same process on garden decking. From a local farmer’s cowshed, where we originally based the business, we started experimenting with non-slip coatings on timber planks. Within a few years, the non-slip decking was selling better than our resin surfacing so we decided to give it our full focus and introduced the Gripsure brand.

Not really! A typical week is easier, as I try to have a good structure to the week and ensure I catch up with all elements of the business within that time frame. I also ensure I build in time for focussing on international development, which is my specific area.

In addition to a wholly owned French company, Gripsure SAS, Gripsure has a manufacturing partner in Japan and we have plans to establish the brand in 12 more territories. Despite our global outlook, Gripsure has stayed true to its roots. All of our non-slip decking boards are handcrafted by our own hardworking team here in Cornwall. And while we’ve got ambitions to extend our reach worldwide, we know there is still potential to grow here in the UK.

As we’ve grown, it’s been incredibly rewarding to see the team develop. Being be able to help individual members of our team grow in confidence and develop themselves is very satisfying. I also love it when a plan comes together!

Timber is a timeless material. It’s beautiful when done properly and it’s also very sustainable. Timber decking is quick to install, good value when compared to patios and other groundworks, and long lasting.

Well, if we don’t do something to stop climate change, there will be no environment for future generations. I believe all companies have a moral duty to do the best they can when it comes to sustainability. This is important – doing what you can – because every company or individual is in a different place along their own journey.

At Gripsure, we’re sponsoring tree planting projects both in the UK and abroad, introducing a whole host of more sustainable products and, of course, all our timber is certified under the industry flagship standards of FSC and PEFC. This is just the beginning and we will be doing more, as and when we can.

An ability to lead, be decisive and have a clear strategy are all essential. Character-wise, I think resilience and a ‘can-do’ attitude are right up there. In the past I’ve been told I’m fair and a good boss. I also know I can be impatient and very demanding, at least that’s what my wife told me to say!

I suppose the lessons learnt in running my own business are very different to those in my previous corporate roles. Adapting to those challenges along the way has been fun! If I could go back in time and speak to my younger self, I would say: “Get into a business or trade you’re passionate about, learn everything you can as quickly as you can and then set off on your own.”

In my personal life I am inspired by my five kids and their attitude to life. In work I have many inspirations, but currently enjoying reading books by James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, and Stephen Covey, who is best known for The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Career-wise, it’s got to be getting Gripsure to where we are now. We’ve come such a long way as we’ve grown from a small local contractor to a global brand. And we’ve stayed true to our roots of being a friendly family business with an uncompromising commitment to quality.

In my personal life my greatest achievement is seeing the kids grow up and making their own way in life.

After a worrying six weeks in March and April 2020, our products have been in demand ever since. We have not experienced a drop in orders from commercial customers and, at the same time, demand from homeowners for garden decking has exploded.

On a personal note, I’m now a big fan of video calling. It is so much more productive and better for the environment. It’s enabling us to easily communicate with our customers across the world.

I try and keep fit, so regular exercise is important. We have two young dogs, so that gets me out on the coast path at the weekends. I also love various sports and wine tasting. Combining all these would make for my ideal weekend!