Garden timber manufacturer confirms it has completed its three-year programme and receives boost in funding from RBS.
Forest Garden, which underwent a management buyout from 3i in 2006 has had its funding from The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), renewed and enhanced.

The company, which has been supported by RBS throughout its restructuring, has concentrated on streamlining its operations over the past three years.

In October 2007 Forest Garden closed its Lockerbie assembly plant in a bid to focus on the expansion and development of its sawmilling activities, while its manufacturing and distribution site Eardisley, Herefordshire was closed in December 2008. The company received £2.5m investment from RBS in September 2008 to expand and redevelop is headquarters in Hartlebury.

Forest Garden managing director Guy Grainger said: "We are at the stage where the major restructuring programme and associated disruptions are well behind us, and we can now focus exclusively on delivering the innovative ranges and services that continue to deliver profitability for our customers."

He added" Continual improvement remains our watchword, but I'm pleased to say Forest Garden has successfully concluded an essential period of change. In 2006 the buyout team inherited seven, disparate manufacturing operations across the UK providing excess capacity and many logistical challenges. We satisfy an annual demand of over 1.5m fence panels and 120,000 garden buildings to name but two ranges, so it's been critical to get Forest Garden's business model absolutely right."

In 2007 Forest Garden was nominated by RBS for the Private Turnaround of the Year award for its improved financial performance. Its 2009 figures are expected to show a trading profit of more than £1m.

Mr Grainger concluded: "Our management team is excited looking forward. We have both confidence and enthusiasm, on the basis that we are single-minded in our focus on improving the service and products we offer to our customers."