With a portfolio of projects which reads like a list of top visitor attractions in the UK, a Welsh landscaping firm has its sights set on further growth.
Inscapes of Bridgend, which recently acquired Cardiff-based Landcraft, has received a £100,000 investment from Tata Steel subsidiary UKSE and has ambitious plans for the future.
In the next three years, says Managing Director Gareth Rees, the plan is to take on another 40 staff bringing the workforce to 120 and to see turnover rise from the present £9.5 million to £15 million.
He added that the order book was strong, and the outlook encouraging. “Our reputation has been built on our excellent service, quality of work and the ability to take on challenging projects where the demands on us are high,” he said.
A recent example of a demanding, high profile project was relaying the lawn on Parliament Square at the Palace of Westminster. This posed many logistical challenges, not least of which was the Jubilee Line running just beneath the site close to the surface, but these were met and Inscapes received a BALI Principal Landscape Award for 2023 for the work.
Other work has included Plymouth Argyle Football Club, Bristol City Football Club, Eastleigh Football Club, Ffos Las Racecourse, Kew Gardens, Hampton Court Palace, The Celtic Manor and The Vale Resort.
Inscapes was launched in Brackla in Bridgend in 1998 as a sports and commercial landscaping company, and now also has bases at Virginia Water In Surrey, Tring in Hertfordshire and Shrewsbury. The company offers the latest in artificial surfaces, and has a maintenance, hire, arboriculture and Irrigation division.
“We have worked very hard to build long-lasting relationships with clients and I am extremely proud of what has been achieved. We are looking to work closely with the Landcraft team and their clients and move into new areas as the business continues to grow,” said Mr Rees.
The UKSE investment is part of its Support Programme for Wales launched last year to help mitigate economic changes resulting from the transition to greener steel-making at Port Talbot. Under the UKSE programme £3 million has been invested in 81 Welsh businesses with potential to grow and create jobs, and an estimated 400 jobs have been created.
Alan Jenkins, UKSE Regional Executive said he was delighted to be supporting Inscapes as the firm moves ahead with its growth plans.
“Inscapes has huge experience which gives it the ability to take on complex challenges, and has added to its capabilities by acquiring Landcraft,” he commented. “The future looks very promising and we are delighted to be making this investment and supporting the jobs at Landcraft and adding to the workforce in years to come. We wish them every success.”
