Midlands Enterprise Awards 2020

53 | Midlands Enterprise Awards 2020 Sep20346 Best Commercial Flooring Company – UK Mighty oaks from little acorns grow is certainly true of Midlands-based flooring contractor, Falcon Contract Flooring Sales Ltd. Recently, we caught up with to a key member of the team to learn more about how the firm has achieved such incredible success over the last decade. Falcon Contract Flooring Sales Ltd (Falcon) comes from humble beginnings having started in 1985 as two men in a van, servicing local properties in Birmingham. The small family-run business has grown considerably since then, and is now the firm used by major hotel chains, restaurants, retirement homes and hospitals across the UK. Ian Hassall took control of the business in 2004 and gained a huge client in Whitbread Inns, however his sons Charles and Tom have since taken the reins and the business has gone from strength-to-strength. Falcon has experienced 675% growth in the last eight years from 2012, with the initial two office staff growing to a workforce of more than 30. It has also gone from having a mere 10 installers, to now having more than 100, working up to seven days a week and on a nationwide basis. Falcon has some pretty big names in its portfolio and holds the contract with two hotel giants - Travelodge and Premier Inn. Charlotte Southan, Sales Manager, tells us more about the firm and its commitment. “It wasn’t just handed to us; we work hard for the results we are seeing today,” explains Charlotte, talking about the leading chains that Falcon supports. “When Travelodge suffered a leak in a London hotel on a Friday evening, Falcon bought the whole team in to measure, cut and prepare the carpet for replacement. Installers travelled and worked through the night to amend the flood damage and by morning, the hotel was back up and running.” It is due to this reactive and maintenance service; offering work completions with 24 hours, that helps make Falcon shine above the rest of the competitors in the marketplace. “If a hotel room goes offline, we can potentially attend, repair or replace within a day; helping the hospitality sector keep up with demand and revenue. We offer minimal disruption to a business whilst working to strict Health and Safety guidelines.” But perhaps the main reason why Falcon is so different to any other company is simply the people who work there. At Falcon, the people are the brand and the firm is committed to investing in its workforce and giving back to its team. Internal staff are given opportunities improve their skills and gain new knowledge, with courses in leadership being offered, and installers being encouraged to pursue the industry qualifications. “You won’t find a more committed or hard-working team,” Charlotte enthuses. “The business is based on morals and the firm is built up of family members and friends who each hold different skills and qualifications in order to achieve the perfect team for completing projects at the highest of standards. Falcon Contract Flooring is one big family.” The close-knit community that is Falcon has helped it achieve not only growth in sales, such as a 45% increase from the year before, but also in reputation. In 2019, the company was the winner of the National Small Family Business of the Year - a prestigious event hosted by Family Business United at the Mayfair Hotel in London. Although a large amount of its work comes from hospitality, Falcon has also worked hard over the past few years to build up a good portfolio in the healthcare sector with a large contract with BMI hospitals around the UK, as well as Audley Villages Retirement Homes. The Covid-19 pandemic has helped highlight just how vital a contract this is. “During the recent global pandemic, for a company who strive to help others, we were grateful to those on the frontline and did everything we could to make their jobs a little easier in the hospitals. When working in healthcare, it is important to complete works at a convenient time. Falcon can adapt to the client’s needs and last-minute changes do not faze us.” With regards to the future, as the world moves to discover a new ‘normal’, Falcon has plans for further development such as its very own Customer Relationship Management system, which is something that has been in the offing for several years. “The primary objective is drive transparency through so the client can see exactly what stage their project is at; a tracking process, if you like,” Charlotte explains further. “This will be a first for the flooring trade and is a first to market application.” Managing Director Charles has the drive and determination to take Falcon to a global platform and the team are thrilled to be opening the first Falcon office in India in October 2020, with enquiries already flooding in from all over Europe and the Far East, it appears that now is the perfect time to branch out. With initial interest coming from the US, Falcon also plans to open the first of 12 proposed offices over a three-year period in America from March 2021 and has a clear vision of where it will take the brand and how this will be executed. “Since starting life as ‘two guys in a van’, our family business has changed considerably. What hasn’t changed is our dedication to honesty, integrity and transparency.” Contact: Charlotte Southan Company: Falcon Contract Flooring Sales LTD Web Address: www.falconcontractflooring.com