Fenton ground maintenance firm keeps it trim by taking on new staff
A GROUNDS maintenance company has invested more than £100,000 in cutting edge equipment as it looks to expand.
Cropper Grounds Maintenance is recruiting up to 40 temporary staff in preparation for the spring and summer.
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EXPANDING: Shaun Edwards and Tim Dawson with the new equipment.
It comes after it increased its turnover from £1.2 million to £1.5 million as its financial year comes to a close.
Best friends Tim Dawson and Shaun Edwards founded the business 12 years ago. They came up with the idea of providing a cost-effective and bespoke service to the likes of schools, hospitals and housing associations while on holiday.
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After securing contracts with three schools, Cropper, based in Fenton, now provides services for 300 schools stretching from Shropshire to Derbyshire. Plans are also in place to expand as far north as Stockport and down to Birmingham.
Over the years the business has increased its services to include gritting during winter and minibus transport.
Financial director Tim said: "We saw a niche in the market as schools were being maintained largely by the big companies but weren't getting a bespoke service.
"We wanted to provide an individual service that was all-encompassing, offering the best service we can at the best price.
"We initially picked up three schools and now we have grown to secure work from some of the big PLCs like Carillion and St Modwen."
This year Cropper has taken delivery of two new tractors and a radio-controlled mower that can mow steep banks without workers having to stand on inclines. It has also taken on its first three apprentices by working with PM Training.
The company employs 36 full-time staff, which Tim says they will increase once the summer season is over.
He added: "There will be at least five full-time positions at the end of the grass-cutting season."
One of Cropper's aims this year is to further invest in machinery to aerate playing fields after Tim and Shaun realised schools were missing out on vital income when pitches became waterlogged following last year's heavy rainfall.
Operations director Shaun, aged 39, who grew up in Normacot with Tim, said: "During the winter we try to put as many of our staff as we can through training programmes, from chainsaw courses to mini-digger driving.
"We've also got 12 team leaders working towards an NVQ qualification. Everybody is growing with the company."
Tim, also aged 39, added: "We care about the service we provide to schools and I think that comes across all the way down to the workers."
After investing in its website last year, www.grounds-maintenance.com, future projects for Cropper include an additional base in Congleton, tree surgery and expanding its standard maintenance package for clients at the same cost.
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