The Harrogate-based events specialist company Joe Manby has picked up several new clients across the UK as it reports a sharp rise in turnover for the first half of the year.
The company was established in 1974 by Joe Manby, a former joiner who spotted an opportunity to create a Northern-based events company competing against what were largely London-based firms at the time.
Andrew Manby
The business is now run by Andrew Manby and his brother Richard who between them own circa 60% of the equity. Manby declined to reveal his turnover but a search at Companies House suggest the company is flourishing with shareholder funds rising sharply over the past couple of years.
The company is based at Hookstone Park in Harrogate from where it operates across three units covering around 100,000 sq ft. Manby said that full time staff are now over 40 with many other freelancers retained depending on the number of shows it’s working on. The business is primarily centred on the provision of shell schemes to show organisers and exhibitors but Manby said that the graphics and related design activities are also growing strongly.
Manby said in the past few months, the company has secured several new contracts including a nine show contract with Centaur Media covering Centaur’s home-building interests, the Manchester Pet Show which launches at Event City in September, a three year contract with the Royal College of Nursing with the first show at the ACC in Liverpool and an Institute of Housing conference in Manchester this year.
Manby added that 95% of the company’s sales are generated within the UK and that there were no plans to target additional international sales beyond supporting existing UK clients who prefer to retain Manby when they venture abroad.
