Winner: Richard Grafton Interiors

Finalists: Skyline Images; Text Mining Solutions

AN INTERIORS business which boasts more than 100 years collective design experience has been named New Business of the Year.

Twenty-five of those years come from Richard Grafton, who used his experience as a designer, creative director and managing director to launch his £1 million retail and commercial interior design venture.

Richard Grafton Interiors was launched 2013 in stylish showrooms in Harrogate’s Montpellier Quarter after Mr Grafton transformed the vacant 3,000 square-foot retail premises on The Ginnel into a threestorey showroom.

The building now showcases entire living rooms, bathrooms and a show flat to demonstrate Richard Grafton Interiors’ design and installation capabilities.

The business provides a complete high quality interior design service and also offers design-led interiors products, from fabrics and flooring to bespoke bathrooms and furniture.

The judges said Richard Grafton Interiors was the most successful business in the category at this time having enjoyed rapid growth and already achieving and surpassing its financial targets.

They praised the business for its relevant sector knowledge, clear strategic targets, joint venture targets, and the fact it has already provided employment for nine recruits since the business started.

Mr Grafton said: “The economy is suffering, but the market is still strong for the right style of design, using the best-quality materials and suppliers but still showing sensible value and that gave us the confidence to launch this venture.

"The business differentiates itself from its competitors by being a onestop- shop for all interior needs from curtains through to bathrooms, sound systems, fireplaces and so on.

“ However, like fashion, interior design is constantly changing and just a year after our launch, we undertook a £50,000 complete make-over of our showrooms to reflect the latest trends."

Bringing together the right team has been crucial to the success of Richard Grafton Interiors. Over the last 12 months, Mr Grafton has built a team with more 100 years'

combined design experience who share his passion for delivering superb interiors, perfectly matched to each client's personal tastes.