New post at Fence Stores Group

The Fence Stores Group based in Parley, Dorset, is under new leadership after director Steve Toomer stepped up to run the business.

Managing Director Steve Randall has taken a back seat at the company that he founded with his father Sidney 31 years ago.

The firm runs the Fencing Centre and Stable Structures brands and has branches in Yeovil, Sidmouth, Oxford, Parley and Three Legged Cross in Dorset, and Cadnam in Hampshire.

Last year its turnover rose from £8.8m to £11.4m and at the Parley centre turnover rose by £1m to £4.5m.

The company has recently invested heavily to acquire more land at its Yeovil centre and a further 15,000 square feet at Parley.

Steve Toomer joined the company in 1995 and now anticipates a period of consolidation.

He said: “Steve Randall is still the named managing director but I am in charge of the day-to-day operations now.

“We have invested considerable sums in recent years and expanded into new areas and now we will consolidate our position.

“We have a new site in Parley for our fitters to work from, which frees up space at our main site near to Bournemouth Airport.

“Our newest branch at Oxford has bedded in very well over the last couple of years and all branches in the group are doing well.

“My aim is to focus on three things: quality, price and service.”

As well as Steve Toomer and Steve Randall the group has two other directors; Miles Thompson and Mark Rossiter.

It also has five managers that look after the various sites and employs around 100 staff.

Steve added: “Last year we had a good year which was helped by the storms that blew down a lot of fences, but we hope to improve on that this year.”

Steve Randall said: “It made sense for me to step back from the day-to-day running of the company and to concentrate more on project development.

“We have some exciting plans for the future.”