Serving the Teesside Business Community | 63
BLOOMING MARVELLOUS
Landscaping firm flourishes after smashing turnover target
Groundwork – Scott Ellwood formed SE Landscaping more than a decade ago .
By Martin Walker
A
landscaping and grounds maintenance firm is pulling up trees after smashing its sales forecast five months early .
Scott Ellwood sowed the seeds for his new landscaping venture more than a decade ago – now he ’ s reaping the rewards after seeing his fledgling firm flourish into a blossoming business .
After starting out as a sole trader in 2006 , County Durham-based Ellwood created his limited company , SE Landscaping , in 2014 . He now heads up a team of six , while turnover for his current financial year ending in April next year is already 10 % above his projected sales figure .
“ Our turnover has more than doubled in the last two-and-a-half years through natural growth ,” says Ellwood .
“ What pleases us most is the awards and recognition that our work is singled out for , which we ’ re very proud of .”
SE Landscaping has picked up several new contracts this year , many of which are with local authorities , while it also works with petrochemicals giant SABIC , Portakabin on Portrack Lane in Stockton , Intelect UK at Riverside Park in Middlesbrough and Teesside property rental firm Parker Barras , which involves maintaining its portfolio of properties , including flats and industrial units .
Ellwood had projected sales of £ 200,000 – but as a result of new contract wins he ’ s already £ 20,000 up with five months to go .
“ We ’ re entering what is traditionally a quiet period for us ,” he said . “ But that doesn ’ t seem to be the case this year . We ’ re picking up a lot of grounds maintenance work which is going to keep us busy during the winter months , and that ’ s a bonus .”
Based in Shildon , SE Landscaping currently has more than 70 active clients on its books involving both private and public sector contracts across the North-East region – working as far south as York and as north as Cramlington .
But it ’ s the company ’ s work with local authorities which has been its bread and butter – and set it on the road to success . SE Landscaping works closely with Durham County Council – which represents about 25 % of its annual turnover – while it also works for Evenwood and Gainford parish councils and Chilton and Fishburn town councils .
“ It ’ s very much been a gradual process of building the business over the years ,” adds the 39-year-old .
“ I started out as a sole trader when the company I was working for went out of business . I ’ d been with them for 11 years – from an apprentice up to contract supervisor – and so I ’ d built up a lot of my own contacts in the business .
“ Some of them gave me contracts which got me up and running , including one with Balfour Beatty , which we still work for to this day .”
SE Landscaping ’ s services include grounds maintenance , garden landscaping , public rights of way , playground maintenance , snow ploughing and salting , tree planting and tree care , fencing repairs and installations , turf laying and seeding , pesticide application and weed control .
For more details about SE Landscaping , go to selandscapingservices . co . uk , email scott @ selandscapingservices . co . uk or call 01388 772704 .