ITV sports presenter Jill Douglas cut the ribbon to unveil new offices for Astor Bannerman. The official opening of ‘The Elephant Works’ marks a continued phase of expansion for the us as a company.
As well as being a presenter, Jill Douglas is CEO of motor neurone disease (MND) charity ‘My Name’5 Doddie’. A close friend of former Scottish international rugby player Doddie Weir, Jill knows first-hand the role that products such as Astor Bannerman’s can play in improving the lives of people living with a disability.
She said: “It’s great to see a local business, growing, thriving and showing ambition. What you actually do though is so much more than manufacturing and production. It’s giving people who are challenged in their everyday living the dignity and ability to live a full a life as possible.
“It sounds simple, but it’s profound – every step of that process is so important to families. In my role as CEO of My Name’5 Doddie foundation, which is an MND charity, we see people everyday who are struggling with this most desperate disease and therefore we know just how important it is that they have the right equipment and the right facilities to allow them to stay within their own homes, allow their families to care for them and importantly maintain that dignity and quality of life for as long as they possibly can.
“Many of them will be using products that you have designed and created here. I see the end result of what you do and how massively important it is, so thank you”
After sponsoring the Changing Places Toilet (CPT) Campaign for 8 years, Astor Bannerman were pleased when legislation was passed to make it mandatory to include a Changing Places Toilet in many new builds and refurbishments.
As well as moving to bigger premises, the firm’s business growth has resulted in the expansion of staff numbers across all areas – production, sales, R and D, customer services, marketing, accounts and logistics.
Mark Colebrook, managing director, said: “The Elephant Works gives us the working environment we all need to ensure we have the ability to perform and deliver to our customers. We should be really proud of what we have achieved. With these larger premises we will continue to knock down targets over the next year.
“Understanding the importance our products make to people’s lives, we remained open through the lockdowns to offer servicing, support and new installations where possible, supporting customers in times of dire need.”