Staffs design firm takes off following major contracts

A Staffordshire design and fit-out firm which specialises in the leisure industry is bucking the economic trend with orders worth nearly £4 million. Now the company is expanding with new jobs to cope with a flood of lucrative contracts.

Rugeley-based GMP Design, one of the leading UK pub, club and restaurant designers, has just taken on an in-house planning consultant and a third paid intern under the company’s internship development programme. The company is now looking for a full time administrator to cope with the increased workload, along with fitters to help with projects.

GMP has completed major international club refurbishment contracts in Guyana and Nigeria, along with the design and refit of two clubs in York, a club and a restaurant near the Olympic Park in London, and the refurbishment of Chicago’s in Stourbridge.

In addition, GMP has carried out major contracts to extend students’ union facilities at the University of Northampton and Cardiff University, and has won new club design and refurb contracts in Leicester and Leamington Spa.

GMP’s Neil Morten said the influx of work was against the economic trend, but demonstrated that, despite the recession, entertainment and leisure remained high on people’s agenda.

“Entrepreneurs and developers are still prepared to place contracts for exciting and innovative projects which result in great facilities for their patrons, which can only be a good sign for the economy. At GMP, we have a great team of young designers who are impressing the marketplace with some first class work. As a result, we urgently need help to cope with the new business we are bringing in. Transport planning, logistics, and financial administration are all skills we are looking for” he said.