NatWest backs new direction for Bristol hygiene business
Bristol, October 2008: A Bristol business providing janitorial supplies and washroom services has transformed itself with a brand new warehouse and new division following a fire in February that devastated its existing building in Avonmouth, thanks to a funding package provided by NatWest and Lombard, both part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group.
Family business Professional Hygiene Ltd, owned and managed by Paul and wife Sarah Tippins, was established eight years ago and is one of the UK's most trusted suppliers of hygiene related products and waste collections, employing 16 staff. Starting out as a simple supplier of paper products and chemicals, the business grew with the addition of many different products and ranges. After approximately three and a half years Professional Hygiene had become prolific in the supply of products to children's nurseries, encouraging the next stage of the company's development into becoming a certified waste carrier. The business supplies to customers in the South West and South Wales.
After the fire, Relationship Manager Mark Forbes from NatWest in Bristol approached Managing Director Paul to offer the provision of a new finance facility with increased flexibility to allow the business to move into larger premises and set up a new embroidery arm to design, stitch and print corporate and sports clothing. Mark worked with his colleague Lorraine Kilmartin from the RBS asset finance arm Lombard, who provided a funding package to allow the business to fit out the new warehouse in Avonmouth, which is four times the size of the previous site. Lombard has also provided funding to allow the business to acquire an additional two vehicles to its existing fleet.
The new site, complete with mezzanine flooring will allow the business to store more stock, accommodate additional office space for potential new staff to support the planned expansion. Since moving into the new site the business has already enjoyed the success of two new business wins with a leading university and hospital in the South West.
Paul Tippins, Managing Director, Professional Hygiene Ltd commented:
"The fire earlier in the year was devastating but gave us the opportunity to regroup and consider our options moving forwards. I see a
real opportunity to grow in the embroidered clothing market and am looking forward to taking the business in a new direction, in addition
to consolidating our existing services with the backing of NatWest and Lombard."
Mark Forbes, Relationship Manager, NatWest in Bristol commented:
"The new, larger warehouse marks a real opportunity for Professional Hygiene to diversify and take the business to a new level.
I look forward to working with Paul and his team in the future."
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For more information, please contact:
Caroline Hill
The Royal Bank of Scotland
Tel: 07796 182703
Email: caroline.j.hill@rbs.co.uk
Notes to Editors
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group
The RBS Group is one of the world's leading financial services companies providing a range of retail and corporate banking,
financial markets, consumer finance, insurance, and wealth management services. RBS Group operates in over 50 countries across
Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East serving more than 40 million customers and employing more than 170,000 people.
The Group's brands include RBS, NatWest, Ulster Bank, Coutts, Citizens and many other "household name" financial services companies.
