Learn how this medium-sized business from Cumbria has transformed its business model to become an exporting heavyweight.
Tell us about your organisation
Playdale Playgrounds is the largest UK manufacturer of outdoor children’s playground equipment. Thanks to award-winning success, children around the world are having fun because of our South Cumbrian business. Playdale’s turnover is circa £11M; we have 85 employees and work with distributors in 50 countries. Playdale has won national awards - ‘UK Family Manufacturer’, ‘UK SME Exporter of the Year’ as well as being named the Department of International Trade Export Champions from 2014. I personally received an MBE for services to International Trade and Exports, and in 2018, I was named IoD North West ‘Global Director of the Year’.
How did you begin your exporting journey?
Ten years ago we predicted the UK market was going to struggle over the next decade and we need to react. By this point we were the second largest playground equipment manufacturer in the UK in what was a very red o
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