Growth continues to heat up for BMF

Bathroom and heating specialist BMF is planning to significantly increase the size of its showroom after its owner hailed the positive impact of a grant from the LEP.

Paul Freeman, co-owner of the family-owned business, said the £13,500 LEP grant, secured as part of a wider £67,500 investment in the company, had helped take BMF to the next level.

Expanding into new facilities and doubling the workforce

Supported by the LEP grant, the retailer moved into new 4,000 sq ft premises on Meanwood Road in Leeds from its previous base in the Moortown area of the city last year.

The move has not only given BMF extra trading space but has facilitated the recruitment of six new employees – doubling the size of its workforce - and helped boost annual turnover by 37 per cent to £1.2m.

An energy efficient offer

As well as designing and supplying luxury bathroom ranges, BMF also offers environmentally-friendly heat sources, including biomass boilers, for both domestic and commercial premises.

Mr Freeman, who runs the company with his two brothers, Ben and Sam, said the LEP grant had come at a vital time for the business.

Mr Freeman, whose father Michael established BMF in 1994, said: “Having bigger premises has certainly given the public more confidence in us as a business as we now have additional space to showcase our expanding product range and sales have increased markedly as a result.

“Turnover, which we expect increase by a further 25 to 30 per cent this year, is also being helped by renewed consumer confidence in the market place. 

“As a result, we are planning to almost double the size of our premises to help continue our exciting growth journey.” 

Roger Marsh, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, added: “It is very satisfying that the company has felt the direct impact of our grant programme through jobs and wealth creation. As the economy continues to gather pace, we look forward to supporting more growing businesses across the Leeds City Region.”