A playground business in Cumbria is set to expand into Croatia after seeing huge demand for its equipment around Europe.
Built on nine generations of family experience in the timber and steel industries, Playdale was founded in 1978 after a plea to the local parish to upgrade the communal playground equipment resulted in Jack and John Croasdale implementing their construction expertise and taking matters into their own hands.
Central to the company’s success was the demand for robust and sustainable products that can thrive in harsh environments, which Playdale soon discovered was not just UK centric. After leaning into opportunities for global export, and realising the international appetite for quality British manufacturing, Playdale began exporting to European markets in 2009.
Today, the Haverthwaite company has successfully built 26,000 play areas in the UK alone and has grown its distributor network across 52 export markets including Sweden, Hungry, Romania, Poland, Spain and Germany to name a few.
Working with the Department for Business and Trade, Playdale Playgrounds was part of the national campaign ‘Made in Cumbria, Sold to the World’, and were named one of the department’s founding Export Champions. The work Playdale has done was pointed to by the Cabinet Office as an example of best practice during Brexit, and they have only grown since then.
President of Playdale, Barry Leahey MBE, said: “Children have a right to play all over the world, and no matter where you are, there will always be a demand for fun. What struck me as surprising is how easy it has been exporting, and the willingness of those abroad to do business with us, as it seems there is a real demand for high-quality British engineering and manufacturing. Obviously, different markets are on different timelines, and it has been important for us to get on the ground to understand the cultural differences in the development of children’s habits and needs. We’re thrilled to be adding Croatia to our list of export markets, and I would encourage others considering exporting to take the plunge and do it, not least because it is fun, but also because there is massive opportunity in Europe.
Playdale Playgrounds is just one of the many UK businesses exporting to Europe, contributing to a total of £352.3bn in exports to the region from June 2023 to June 2024.
This International Trade Week, running from 11-14 November, the Department for Business and Trade is encouraging all businesses interested in expanding or kick-starting their global operations to attend the free workshops and seminars. Data from ITW sponsor, Santander’s Trade Barometer Report, shows that the proportion of businesses trading internationally that see growth opportunities in European markets over the next few months has increased – in Germany from 20% to 23%, and in France from 15% to 19%.
Minister for Exports, Gareth Thomas: “Our mission is to grow the economy. Using International Trade Week to boost exports across Europe and to reset our relationship with our nearest neighbours on the continent is an important part of that.
“It’s incredible to see Playdale’s success around the world and its continued expansion. The European market offers big demand for these skills and we’re encouraging all businesses to take advantage of that.”
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