26 Business DECEMBER 2018
business of the year
Catering supply business H.G
Stephenson has been going since 1868
when it was founded by Henry George
Stephenson.
Now 150 years later, the managing
director is the founder’s great great
grandson who goes by the same name.
In fact, the proud Stockport
business has five generations of family
involvement and their passion for
the company put them in top spot
for the Manchester Evening News
Turnover £10m-£25m award, seeing
off competition from Sports Tours
Internationals and Join The Dots.
Today, Stephensons has become a
‘one-stop shop’ for the independent UK
hotel, restaurant and catering sectors,
as well as being a vital point of support
for bars and pubs.
Both products are sourced directly
from manufacturers and UK importers
and can include everything from
crockery and glasses to convention
ovens to cleaning chemicals.
Having survived two world wars,
nationwide strikes and even the
dismissal of family members for
embezzlement, Stephens is going from
strength to strength having relocated
from Barton Arcade to the Kennerley
Works site in Stockport.
Under the leadership of Henry
Stephenson, staff numbers have
increased from 25 to more than 100
and turnover has rocketed from £3.5m
in 2005 to £14.7m in 2017/18.
He said: “I’m of the philosophy that
our history is fabulous, but we can not
rest on our laurels.
“If we’re not competitive or we miss
a delivery it counts for very little. It’s
a nice milestone to reach but we’re
always looking to the future.”
There may be some 150 years
between the current MD and his
namesake who started the company,
but they both share the same
understanding of what it takes to run a
successful business.
It is their passion for the product,
an understanding of the market, awillingness to embrace and respond to
new trends and technological advances
as well as, crucially, a desire to provide
the customer with the right product.
This has been a winning formula for
more than a century and is the reason
they are one this year’s winners.
Managing director Henry Stephenson
said: “It is our 150th year and it is really
fantastic to share that birthday with the
MEN. We are a traditional business,
a retail company. We are not in high
finance or communications and we
have been local for 150 years.
“I think we have total family values
which is what makes up the DNA of our
company and we remain loyal to ourManchester roots.” Paula Jupp, head of
commercial business, M.E.N Media,
said: “As always, the M.E.N Business of
the Year Awards was another fantastic
opportunity to celebrate the success of
our regional businesses.
”Now in its 26th years, the awards
have gone from strength to strength.
“Just like the M.E.N, HG Stephenson
is a heritage business with strong local
roots. The judges particularly praised
the firm’s ability to drive through the
many challenges in the hotel, food and
leisure sector, delivering sustainability
in an industry that is fast changing
while remaining consistently focused
on its customers.”M.E.N. turNovEr £10M-£25M: h g stEphENsoN
Large scale developments in Greater
Manchester is fuelling growth for
Utilities Design and Planning.
The Salford company works with
local authorities, utility companies,
and private sector contractors to
provide civil engineering and traffic
management services to a wide range
of organisations.
It is currently seeing demand for
utilities and sewage repair work and
rail work in Manchester.
Metrolink track maintenance work
is required every five years and as the
lines are of various ages, it means UDP
is in demand for a constant stream of
repair work.
The company is currently working
on Manchester Airport’s £1bn
transformation project, and with the
infrastructure investments planned for
the north west region, UDP believes
it has great opportunity to grow and
expand the business.
UDP has 250 staff working on
projects across the UK including a new
contract to maintain Nottingham’s
tram system.
Leeds and Liverpool have also been
identified as key areas for growth.
UDP, which was founded in 1996by David Hilton and Noel Gallagher,
received investment from private
equity firm Foresight Group in 2016 to
enable a major expansion drive.
The team plans to drive revenues
from £7.2m in 2017 to £25m by 2022.
On winning the turnover between
£5m to £10m category, CEO Mike Flynn
said he was ‘over the moon.’
“This award demonstrates the
passion and care of our staff in the
work that they do.
“We wouldn’t be here today if we
didn’t have a great team of people
behind us.”
He added: “We also want to say a big
thank you to Foresight Group which
has believed in us and is helping us to
deliver our growth ambitions.”
Bradley Russell, divisional director at
Brewin Dolphin, said: “In a very tough
category, Utilities Design and Planning
were a worthy winner. Led by CEO,
Mike Flynn, the business is going from
strength to strength, whilst maintaining
the integrity of the business and
their roots, taking great care of their
people and working closely with the
community around them.
“A great example of a fantastic
Manchester business.”brEwiN dolphiN £5M-£10M: utilitiEs dEsigN aNd plaNNiNg