The award comes just weeks after Paragon announced a string of new contract wins totalling over 200,000ft2 for Axa Insurance, Britvic Soft Drinks and rightmove.com
The Crème de la Crème Business Awards showcase and celebrate the very best in business excellence, with shortlisting requiring a company to have won another recognised business award in the last 12 months. Following Paragon’s double win in December for Best Large Business and Best Employer at the Best Business Awards, Paragon’s challenege this time was to convince the judges that the business “truly represents business excellence as measured against four key criteria: quality, success, customer service and innovation.”
Commenting on Paragon’s Crème de la Crème Business Award for Outstanding Business Achievement, Simon Burgess, chairman of the Judges said:

“With more than 20 years of experience behind it, when hit by the worst recession to affect the commercial property market in living memory, Paragon Interiors Group, a commercial interior design company, proved itself indestructible and a great survivor. The secret of its survival is its modus operandi – it puts the practicalities of the build before the design.
“It is also carefully and prudently run and has built up an excellent reputation. Consequently, most of its business is repeat business or comes from a referral. While others were failing, it managed to increase turnover by 55%. It goes to show that a good reputation goes a long, long way.”

Commenting on the award to Paragon for Best Large Business, Andrew Areoff, Chairman of the Judges, said: “Paragon has defied the recession and one of the worst ever downturns in the commercial property market to enjoy spectacular double-digit growth in every area in the past two years. At a time when many companies are pulling in their horns, Paragon has been busy building the company and is on target to increase turnover by a whopping 50% this year. With an enviable track record in repeat business from customers, the company also has a great attitude to valuing staff and setting high environmental standards.”

Paragon’s strongest ever start to a financial year led to the creation of 25 new roles within the business in early summer and recruitment is likely to be on the agenda shortly, as Paragon’s managing director, Alan Hardy explains: “We would not have been able to win the Best Business award without the fantastic efforts and commitment of our valued employees so it is great that we also won in the Best Employer category. It shows that we are committed to looking after our most precious resource, our people, and if we can continue to do that we will continue to grow further still.

“We had a major recruitment drive in April and we have more good news on the horizon with some very prestigious contracts about to come on stream so we will be recruiting again very soon to add further skilled personnel to our team.”

Commenting on the award to Paragon for Best Large Business, Andrew Areoff, Chairman of the Judges, said: “Paragon has defied the recession and one of the worst ever downturns
in the commercial property market to enjoy spectacular double-digit growth in every area in the past two years. At a time when many companies are pulling in their horns, Paragon has been busy building the company and is on target to increase turnover by a whopping 50% this year. With an enviable track record in repeat business from customers, the company also has a great attitude to valuing staff and setting high environmental standards.”

Paragon’s strongest ever start to a financial year led to the creation of 25 new roles within the business in early summer and recruitment is likely to be on the agenda shortly, as Paragon’s managing director, Alan Hardy explains: “We would not have been able to win the Best Business award without the fantastic efforts and commitment of our valued employees so it is great that we also won in the Best Employer category. It shows that we are committed to looking after our most precious resource, our people, and if we can continue to do that we will continue to grow further
still.

“We had a major recruitment drive in April and we have more good news on the horizon with some very prestigious contracts about to come on stream so we will be recruiting again very soon to add further skilled personnel to our team.”

Manchester based Paragon Interiors Group Plc has recruited established designer, Ian Matthews, to head up its design studio across both its office locations in Nottingham and the North West, and Alex Rhodes as relationship manager in its Manchester office.

Ian joins Paragon Group from PDM International, having been design director at the firm’s Hong Kong offices for the past three years, and has worked with an array of corporate clients such as Barclays Capital, The Bank of New York, BBC Mailbox and Credit Suisse.

Alex Rhodes joins as relationship manager to oversee Paragon’s North West client base, having most recently worked as general manager at Manchester’s St James’ Club.

Mike McKeown, sales director and head of Paragon Manchester said that these appointments represent a significant time for Paragon North West, having had a successful first year in the region. He commented: “We are delighted to have appointed both Ian and Alex and are confident they will complement the team. We have been looking to recruit for both these positions for a while, as the company is experiencing a period of growth following a number of significant wins this year.

“Ian’s experience working with high profile names, as well as projects ranging from complete new-builds to high quality fit-outs, will help to drive the business forward, while continuing to raise the bar when it comes to creating innovative workspace design.”

Ian Matthews, head of design at Paragon commented: “Paragon is currently in a really strong position in the market across the UK, and for me, the opportunity to grow the design department is very exciting. Since my time away from the region, Manchester has changed and developed as a city, attracting some great international names to set up offices here, which as designers, offers significant opportunities in terms of creating innovative workspaces.

“With the individual expertise of the current team, I am confident we will offer the market something different and become an integral part during every aspect of a project.”

An integral element of Slough Borough Council’s budget strategy in the short and medium term relates to strategic asset management. Their innovative approach in considering alternative uses of their existing  property  portfolio  is  delivering  impressive  results.  This shift from the traditional to more contemporary practice provides a route to continue capital investment in regeneration and community improvements during the current turbulent financial climate.

The  transformation  programme,  now  firmly  embedded  in  the Council’s asset management strategy, began with a plan to convert part of a run down community centre into an Early Years Centre.

The  community  centre  was  under  utilised  but  offered  the  space to provide broader community benefit. An existing nursery facility nearby struggled with poor accommodation and lack of space. The community  centre  provided  the  perfect  location  to  provide  the local Chalvey area with an exemplar teaching and family facility for children under 5. The success of the project is unprecedented and has driven a further phase of investment utilising just 50% of the original capital allocation.

Against a background of competitive tender, Paragon was set the challenge  to  create  a  learning  environment  from  a  child’s  point of  view.  The  in-house  Paragon  design  team  considered  layout, equipment,  workplace  environments  and  standards  of  care  and education of children under 5 and their families.  Where possible, steps were taken to ensure sustainable materials were used and energy efficiency was improved.  The design offered flexibility and the potential for future development. In particular, the children’s rooms and outdoor play spaces were capable of multiple uses.  

When designing the outdoor area, it was treated as an extension to the indoor accommodation and was accessible to all age groups at any time of the year, with children having free access to their preferred area of learning.

This scheme represents a part of the massive refurbishment of the Community Centre. Following the success of the Early Years project Paragon has been instructed to undertake the design and fit out of the remainder of the building, creating a new self service local library and modern well equipped learning and community rooms.

 

Manchester Office Agents jazz things up for 1920s’ charity calendar

Never one to turn down an opportunity to get dressed up, Manchester’s Office Agents’ Society last week donned dicky bows and braces to team up with Paragon Interiors Group Plc’s feather boa and pearl clad Manchester and Nottingham female staff, for a 1920s’ inspired charity calendar, to raise money for the Ronald McDonald’s House Charities (RMHC).
 
The aptly entitled D&B And All That Jazz photo shoot, was funded by Paragon Interiors Group Plc as it has chosen RMHC as its 2012 charity. Taking place at its Belvedere offices, which could have been mistaken for Fat Sam’s Grand Slam on Friday, saw the likes of Edwards & Co’s Andrew Timms, GVA’s Richard Lace, Lambert Smith Hampton’s Adam Jackson, Cushman & Wakefield’s Jonathan Baucher, p3’s Phil Meakin and Toby Yield and JLL’s Andrew Gardiner and Tom McWilliams recreating scenes from Chicago.
 
Ian Matthews, swapping his new title of head of design, for fashion and art director for the shoot, also had JLL’s Greg Ball balancing atop of the Paragon sculpture, Matthews & Goodman’s David Laws and Rob Peill up a stepladder, whilst CBRE’s Nick Nelson and WHR’s Anthony Howcroft, Ollie Rowe and Josh Levy sporting their Movember taches, posed al fresco with the Paragon mini.
 
The money raised will go towards helping provide free ‘home away from home’ accommodation at hospitals across the UK, enabling families to stay close to their child and maintain a degree of normal family life. A brand new house next to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital is on-track to open in Spring 2012.
 
The calendar is due to be unveiled at the OAS Christmas Lunch on 8 December and will be on sale throughout Christmas and early next year. The calendar will cost £10 with all proceeds going to RMHC.
 
The calendar can be purchased at the Paragon office through Alex Rhodes, 0161 235 0800.

Paragon Interiors Group Plc fits out new flagship office on behalf of St Helens based Housing Association

Manchester based Paragon Interiors Group Plc has completed work on the £1.1m fit-out for Merseyside housing association Helena Partnerships, at its brand new headquarters in St Helens.
 
The design and build contract, which Paragon won through a competitive tender in April this year, started in August and was completed in early October. The 23,000 sq.ft. space is the new headquarters for staff and also includes a meeting space for local people and organisations.
 
Mike McKeown, Sales Director at Paragon Interiors commented: “We have really enjoyed working with Helena and Savills on this project as we were able to demonstrate our ability to maximise space with innovative designs, while delivering varying needs to a specific budget.  Completing the project in only eight weeks has allowed staff to move in with minimal disruption and provide a much-needed facility for local groups to meet.
 
“This project represents an exciting time for Paragon as we continue to cement our design credibility and reputation in the region and we look forward to working closely with Helena Partnerships and Savills in the future.”
 
Steve Moore, Executive Director of Business Development at Helena Partnerships said: “When we rebranded as Helena Partnerships in 2008, we pledged to develop a centrally located office which would be a one-stop-shop and meeting place for the local community.
 
“We wanted our new office and customer service centre, Helena Central, to make a real statement about our organisation and brand.  Paragon’s creative approach has certainly brought this aspiration to life through a bold design and innovative layout.
 
“On a practical level Paragon demonstrated strong site management skills as well as a robust partnership approach throughout the process. All the staff we worked with were enthusiastic, kept calm under pressure and communicated well to keep us fully informed on progress.”
 
“Helena Central is a wonderful way to mark our tenth birthday next year and celebrate how far we have come as a business since we formed in 2002. We’d like to thank Paragon for the very important contribution they have made to the Helena Partnerships journey.”

A team of 18 local bikers from Paragon Interiors Group Plc (Paragon) rode their way to victory last month by raising £13,481.33 for the NSPCC after completing a 160 mile Coast to Coast cycle ride.

The group from Paragon exceeded their initial aim of raising £5,000 in the challenge which saw them set off on their bikes on 6th May from Whitehaven in Cumbria and finish three days later in the east coast town of Tynemouth.

Emma Bailey, team captain and office manager at the Nottingham based commercial interior design and fit out company, said:

“We are so pleased that we could help to raise money for the NSPCC which is a charity so close to our hearts and we’re even more delighted to have exceeded our target. Our fundraising page is still open so we still welcome donations.

 “The weather was not great and though we had everything but the snow, it didn’t dampen the team’s spirits. There were a few comical falls including an army roll into the bushes but thankfully nothing too serious. Although it was tricky at times, the team would definitely like to take part in a similar event for the charity in the future. I would like to thank all those who gave generously as it was a terrific incentive when the going got really tough.”

Although not riding himself, managing director Alan Hardy boosted the team’s fundraising efforts by giving a personal contribution of £100 for every Paragon employee who crossed the start and finish line.

Mr Hardy said: “We’ve come to expect dedication from the Paragon team whatever the challenge and once again they have decided on a fundraising event designed to push them physically and mentally. The team is passionate, dedicated and focussed in everything they do and I am very proud of all of them.”

NSPCC local community fundraising manager, Vicki Rowles, said: “We are so thankful to Paragon for participating in the Coast to Coast ride which is known to be a very gruelling journey. All money raised by the team will go towards helping the NSPCC to support vulnerable children and families through its local services and helplines including ChildLine, which has a base in Nottingham.”

To ensure the NSPCC obtains maximum benefit from the challenge, the Paragon event team organised the cycle ride using their own funds and company resources.
People wanting to sponsor the team can visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Paragon.

For more information about how to support the NSPCC, people can visit www.nspcc.org.uk or contact the NSPCC Midlands fundraising office on 0844 892 0217.

Manchester-based Paragon Interiors Group North West, has won a £1m fit-out contract with Merseyside housing association Helena Partnerships, at its brand new headquarters in St Helens.

The contract, which was won through a tender process, saw Paragon beat a number of other firms to work with Savills to deliver the interior design and build. The new, 23,000 sq.ft. headquarters will be a head office for staff and will also include a meeting space for local people and organisations. The fit-out is due to commence in August this year and is expected to take eight weeks to complete.

Andy West, head of Paragon North West, commented: “We are delighted to have won the Helena Partnerships contract, which is testament to the team’s hard work in presenting innovative, fresh and affordable concepts. The size of the contract along with the prestigious nature of the client, meant there was a lot of interest and competition in the tender and the win reinforces our prominence as an all-encompassing fit-out service.

“The win represents an exciting time for Paragon North West as we continue to cement our design credibility and reputation in the region. We are looking forward to working closely with Helena Partnerships and Savills to deliver a first-class facility.”

Mike Millward, part of the Building and Surveying team at Savills commented: “Paragon’s presentation stood out as one that put the client at the centre of the design, featuring creative yet practical concepts that accommodate a variety of needs for the housing association. In Paragon we have found a fit-out firm who will become a true partner to support us in supplying Helena Partnerships with a resource that will benefit its employees and local community.”

Helena Partnerships is a St Helens-based housing association, with more than 12,500 properties. To find out more, visit www.helenapartnerships.co.uk

Paragon’s team of 17 dedicated fund raising enthusiasts, have once again decided on a fund raising event designed specifically to challenge every muscle in their body, a test of endurance and fitness only normally associated with a professional sports person.

For 2011, the Paragon team has elected to complete the famous Coast to Coast (C2C) cycle run, starting on 7^th May, from Whitehaven in Cumbria and finishing 3 days later in Tynemouth, a distance of some 160 miles. The team target is to raise a minimum of £5,000 for the NSPCC in Nottingham.

In order to ensure that the NSPCC obtains maximum benefit from this grueling event, the Paragon event team was adamant that they wanted to organise and run this C2C cycle ride using their own funds and company resources. This combined with the ability to plan the event utilising a multitude of organisational ‘in house’ skills, enables the team to keep costs to an absolute minimum, thereby ensuring the NSPCC gets all of the money raised.

This dedicated team is now 4 months into a strict planning and training regime, targeting a commitment made by Alan Hardy ( Paragon MD) to support the event with a personal contribution of £100 for every Paragon employee who crosses the start and finish line (in his words) ‘whilst they are still on their bikes’. 

To help support the team please visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Paragon