ZenOffice and IPL are bucking the trend in construction

While the majority of the construction industry flatlines, one Warrington based business is bucking the trend with an unusual yet simple approach.

When Roy Lomax, Ralph Hughes and Johnny Wilkinson faced the grim prospect of redundancy from an industrial fit-out company in early 2010 they refused to be beaten.

“Roy and I have worked together for the best part of 20 years and with Johnny for the last 4 years, we knew exactly how we operated and how well our skills complimented each other – starting our own business was a logical move,” said Ralph.

“We formed our company, Interior Partners Ltd (IPL) in April 2010 and we began filling our order book that same day.”

The order book kept filling for IPL with turnover reaching £1.2 million in the first year of trading.

In October 2011, IPL took on a new partner and joined forces with ZenOffice with a view to expansion and service continuity.

Ralph explained: “The link with ZenOffice not only bolstered our trading position it also now enables us to offer a turn-key solution for any business wanting to relocate, expand or refurbish – from design and build right through to office supplies, we’re now a one stop shop.”

ZenOffice’s Managing Director, Les Kerr commented “ZenOffice has been established for 40 years and in its quest to be ‘The Complete Office Solution’, our partnership with IPL would be a complementary addition to our other divisions – business supplies, print and design and Xerox managed print services and now business interiors.”

Les continued “Additionally, I could see the potential in IPL but they would get the much needed support they required as a small but thriving business with help from us in areas such as sales, marketing and IT.”

Ralph said “Our growth forecast for 2012 is 80 percent, by May this year we have already matched the orders for the whole of 2011.”

With glowing testimonials from clients like outdoor clothing giant Regatta, the firm’s future looks bright – whatever the weather IPL can surely brave any storm.