Deputy Business Editor Tom Pegden speaks to an entrepreneur whose Funky Tents are a feature at many of the region's biggest arts and cultural events
Brian Jordan is the definition of a self-made man. The 51-year-old left school at 15 to go into the family farming business before realising there was more to life than labouring.
So he went on to launch businesses ranging from recruitment to skiing holidays. At the age of 40, he sold up and decided to put his feet up. Within a fortnight, he was back in business, taking a controlling stake in Funky Tents.
In four years, he had turned it into a national business with dozens of staff on the books. The stand-out feature of the business – which has its headquarters in Tugby, a few miles east of Leicester – is the unique design of the tents. Sharp points and angles differentiate them from traditional box-shaped marquees.
Brian said: "The business started as a company called Marquees by Stuart Low seven years ago.
"I had run a recruitment company called the Work Partnership, and sold that around eight or nine years ago.
"I had other business interests and set up another recruitment company in Market Harborough called Onsite Partnership, providing temporary and permanent staff to people like Tesco.
"Within three years, we were the biggest of our kind in Europe, turning over £10 million.
"I sold that company and decided to take a break, but two weeks later I was contacted by Stuart Low and invited to look at his business.
"I bought a majority share just over three years ago. It was a relatively small investment in a small business. Stuart – who is still heavily involved – wanted my expertise."
Stuart had been doing small parties and weddings with his quirky shaped tents and Brian saw the opportunity of creating a strong brand. They changed the name to Funky Tents and invested in more marquees as the business became established, doing everything from festivals and events at stately homes to corporate days. They also moved into providing added services such as event flooring, furniture, lighting and catering.
Brian said the business has expanded from six to 50 staff, and now caters for small birthday parties to guest lists of 3,500 people.
Clients range from the McLaren F1 team to Oakham School.
Brian said: "We've done everything from private garden parties for 10 people to weddings for 400, events for the Time Team TV show, things with Lewis Hamilton, and even parties for a certain footballer and his fashion designer wife.
"We do structures for the Leicester Tigers, Market Harborough Rugby Club, and we've got procurement contracts with Leicester City Council and Rutland County Council."
Local events include the city's Riverside Festival and St George's Day festivities and the Simon Says pop festival at De Montfort Hall. They have also done Lubstock and Glastonbudget.
Brian said: "People who use us are looking for a one-stop shop – something unique. We don't compete with the big marquee providers because we are so different."
When Brian came on board, it was very much a one-man outfit and turnover was around £30,000 a year. He said he had invested around £300,000 since then, and the tents range in cost from £600 to £150,000 for one which came from Canada.
Brian has now moved on to the next stage of the company's development – selling regional franchises in the business. Franchisees provide the manpower, while the team in Tugby provide the professional support. Since June, he said there had been more than 124 approaches.
"We've only just launched it but already have an area running in East London and have just accepted one for the South West of England," said Brian.
"We have six event planners which is increasing to take account of the franchise network.
"Offering franchises allows us to grow our brand that much quicker – just like McDonald's or Ikea.
"We know there's a desire and we're going through the applications to find the most suitable candidates.
"It's not about just putting faces into spaces but making sure they mirror the ethics of the brand and can work with us in partnership."
Franchisees pay £15,000 and are expected to invest £25,000 within the first year in enough equipment to host at least two simultaneous events. Brian's side of the partnership collects a percentage of takings and supports the franchisees and their customers with their planning.
He said: "It appeals to people who want to spend their time marketing and not have to worry about enquiries.
"They also have the option after a year to reduce that service and cut the percentage they pay."
The plan is to sell four franchises by next June, then sell five a year for the next four years.
Brian said: "Eventually we want to cover the whole of the UK.
"We've already provided structures to northern Europe, so there's no reason we can't move there, too."