Partner Article

Danbro’s Twenty Twenty vision for 2020

Charities, community groups, social enterprises, suppliers, constructors, contractors, friends, family and former government workers turned out in their numbers – for number crunchers Danbro.

The accountancy company’s official opening of new headquarters Jubilee House on the edge of Lytham Green turned into a celebration of community spirit as well as entrepreneurial endeavour.

Several hundred guests filed through the impressive doors to check out the makeover of what was once Birkenhead House, former Lytham base of the Land Registry.

They included seven year Lytham primary school pupil Lucy King who designed the Jubilee House flag which was presented to her as a keepsake.

Visitors gathered in the Green Room on the new upper floor to hear the Danbro Rock Choir, led by GB Music Events founder Ian Hooper and choirmaster Di Healey, make their debut ahead of playing support to at least one of the headline acts at Lytham Festival –which Danbro is sponsoring – later this summer. No pressure there, given the bill of the week long event includes McBusted, Faithless, Rae Morris, Elaine Page and many more…

THE WAY WE WERE

Longest serving employee Sharon Oldham, auntie of Danbro co-founder Helen Broughton, pulled the sash to reveal the plaque commemorating the opening.

Sharon joined Danbro after the company had ‘expanded’ into the garage of the family home at Warton having started in a box room above. Damian who worked away as a contractor himself used his redundancy cash to fund the conversion - big enough to accommodate two desks and three filing cabinets… and still leave room for the family washing in the neighbouring utility room.

Sharon used to shift the washing into Damian’s car if a client came calling. She also became a dab hand at maintenance after Danbro relocated to its first proper office, a former building society on the high street at nearby Kirkham. The company later moved to the Whitehills Business Estate, Blackpool, and promptly outgrew several units there too.

Sharon admits: “It’s absolutely incredible to see where the company is today. I used to pass here every day when I worked at Guardian Royal Exchange before I had my daughters so it looks like where I started my career is probably where I will end my career: Lytham. And just across the road from Jubilee House is the hospital where I was born.”

Many former Land Registry staff, who worked in legal and planning registering properties across the land, took the chance to see how the ‘old battleship’, as Birkenhead House was affectionately known in their time, was shaping up with its brand new look.

They talked with old friends and colleagues about old times – and spooked newcomers to the landmark building with tales of the ghost of the Custom House which once stood on the site.

Former government worker Julie Robinson-Southward, now an artist, presented Helen with an etched screenprint of Lytham views. “We looked out on this lovely town every day,” said Julie who is having two exhibitions of her own. “I hope you’re as happy here as we all were. The building is just flooded with light which cannot help but lift the spirits.”

Former Land Registry manager Eric Stringer traded anecdotes with former area manager Keith Melia of the Land Registry’s heyday – and how the Lytham site had once accommodated 750 staff when nationally staff numbers ran to many thousands.

The organisation’s official title Her Majesty’s Land Registry is in keeping with the building’s new identity Jubilee House.

Helen explains: “We changed the name from Birkenhead House to Jubilee House as it fitted better with our aims. The year of purchase was Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee; Damian was in his 50th year and 50 is traditionally the year of Jubilee (in the Jewish calendar and the year when all debts were written off and slaves set free, so a new start was created). Jubilee involves happiness; celebration; and has a real feel-good ring to it so it was perfect!”

Jubilee House has capacity for 524 staff – and aims to reach it. Guests who joined tours of Jubilee House led by Helen and Damian marvelled at how investment, vision and Imagineering has breathed new life into a building which languished for several years after the Land Registry shut the site and workers either left or moved to the Warton site.

Danbro made the journey in reverse. Danbro started in the Warton family home of the Broughtons 15 years ago – just 2.8 miles away. It was named after the couple’s son Daniel, now 17.

FAST TRACKED

It has since won four consecutive listings from 2007 in the Sunday Times Fast Track Top 100 fastest growing, privately owned, companies in the UK.

More recently,for the second year running it’s been hailed one of the top 1000 ‘most inspirational’ companies in Britain (Daily Telegraph/London Stock Exchange).

It has also been named one of the top 50 fastest growing companies in the North West by one of the most influential barometers of the industry – placed at 33rd place in the region’s Growth 100 report published by North West Business Insider.

This year it was named Employer of the Year (Red Rose Awards/Lancashire Business View) and retained gold/champion accreditation for Investors in People – which places the company in the top 1.5 per cent of companies in the UK.

The workforce has virtually doubled each year since starting out in a 6x6 boxroom.

It employs close on 200 staff, has 8000 clients across the country, and a turnover topping £225m with the recent acquisition of a competitor in the south.

The couple have declared their aim is to top half a billion – at least. They are out to more than double staff, clients and turnover over the next five years.

Jubilee House is key to that objective but part of the complex will offer hot desk , starter hub and incubator units for new businesses, social enterprises, and others who need facilities but can’t afford high street or business estate rents- or to shop around for such facilities which are in short supply.

Brothers of Charity are running the coffee shop and canteen as a social enterprise. Helen, director of people and standards, says the aim is to “give something back - we had help ourselves starting out.”

The businesswoman hails Jubilee House as the “end of an era and the beginning of a new journey which will take us from strength to strength as we grow.”

Helen adds: “It may be that we venture into regional offices, grow our presence in London a bit more - but we’ll do it. We only say half a billion because it’s realistic but there is no limit. As long as the business is out there we will keep trying to win it.”

Driving force Damian agrees: “We’re in an expanding market, the temporary and freelancer contractor market place, and we’re always looking for new and exciting opportunities, and are anticipating great rapid growth in new services.

“The journey is ongoing. There is so much more we can do, so much more potential, to keep pushing, keep investing, expanding and building a future.”

FAMILY ETHOS

The couple, who reference the Danbro Family throughout, have scores of other family members working under the same impressive roof and at their London office and elsewhere.

Both paid tribute to the support of their families throughout their personal and professional growth.

Helen also gave a moving tribute to her mum Mrs Pat Rhodes. “At Danbro ‘family’ is our internal brand, our values are firmly placed in family. It is a continuous source of strength.

My mum has inspired me, kept me on a straight path and kept me grounded whether she believes it or not, was there when the company was formed, made sacrifices in time and money to help get it off the ground, answered the phones, looked after the kids, shopped for us, cleaned for us… I want to honour and thank her with all of my heart.“

Helen’s mum Pat Rhodes says: “Helen and Damian fit together, they are solid together, and they have grown together yet give one another the space to be their own people.

To see Jubilee House is overwhelming. Helen and Damian’s oldest daughter Grace said I can’t believe all this, grandma, I can’t take it in that my mum and dad own that. And I said nor can I, love. They make a very good team.“

The building had stood empty for several years after the site was shut in 2009. They noticed it was on the market while attending the neighbouring church – where they had married several years before setting up Danbro together.

Helen admits:“ It never really entered our minds to buy it, it was massive and would cost far too much. It was up for sale for about four years and we thought, you know what, let’s make an offer, let’s do it. We had a ridiculous figure in mind of what it would take to do it up in 2011 – and we managed to secure the building. We made a leap of faith. We liked the position of it and the ability to use such a massive space to grow our business.“

Damian concludes: “Now it just takes your breath away. It looked good on the plans but, boy, even better in real life. It is something for us all to be proud of within Danbro and also within the local community. We have had only positive reactions to it and we view it as an investment in Lytham and the future.”

TRIBUTES

Tributes have been paid to Damian and Helen after they officially opened new headquarters Jubilee House in Lytham – and announced plans for a half a billion turnover by 2020.

Jeremy Coates, CEO of Magma digital, a software development agency based in Preston: “Accountancy as a general practice is not known for being all guns blazing – Damian and Helen have a measured risk management strategy and take something on and put heart and soul into it and it is all driven by passion. They have had phenomenal growth as a company but they are only getting started really if we look at the longer arc. Jubilee House is the next phase in the next step of the evolution – taking on a much bigger floor space today because they are planning for tomorrow and with definite aspirations to be in the top three in the UK market. It’s a privilege to be sharing that path.”

Chester Boothe, head of new business development: “I genuine believe people care for each other here. It may be old fashioned but that is why Danbro is a successful company. I think Helen and Damian will be in it for the long term. I hope they take all of us with them. If they don’t I’ll be sat home twiddling my thumbs – I would not want to work for anyone else until the day I retire.”

Glenn Swift, group financial controller: “In five to 10 years it wouldn’t surprise me if we had nearly outgrown Jubilee House. They have the right formula.”

Chris Rhodes, head of Danbro Limited: “If you take time to reflect it’s frightening, awesome, fantastic. I’m proud to work here.”

John Thorburn, director Danbro Accountancy: “When I came for the first interview with Damian I was impressed with the man, his vision. He had big plans for Danbro but was a very down to earth chap as well who I took an instant liking to and thought I could really work with Danbro, hopefully he will invite me back so we can work together – and he did. Helen is just a lovely woman that you warm to immediately. They were a great couple from day one. And their success shows nice people can do well in business.”

Andrew Rhodes, maintenance manager: “This is the next big step in the history of Danbro. Jubilee House stands alone and says this is me - Danbro as Danbro.”

Gareth Richardson, senior business development manager: “It’s only when you look back or have a little Eureka! moment you realise the growth is continual and so fast you hardly notice it is happening.”

Aqsa Mirza MBA, business development manager: “I can see Danbro becoming more a public name, regionally they are well known, and I see them becoming more nationally renowned. I can see them working alongside big brands. Jubilee House gives us that platform.”

Neil Ormesher, director Danbro Business: “I’d have never dreamed we would be in Jubilee House if asked eight years ago. It’s a fantastic huilding. Now it’s all about getting our heads down and growing for the next phrase –Damian and Helen want it to be as big as possible.”

Sharon Oldham, quality coordinator Operations: “It is absolutely incredible where the company has gone. I used to pass here every day going to the Guardian Royal Exchange. I worked at GRE before I had my daughters so it looks like where I started my career is probably where I will end my career.. In Lytham - and just across the road from Jubilee House is the hospital where I was born.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jacqui Morley .