A FIT-OUT company which employs 600 people near Southampton and has upmarket clients such as 10 Downing Street has given itself a strategic makeover.

Millbrook Furnishing, which started out as a small upholstery and joinery business in 1946, is now called Millbrook Interiors.

The £10,000 branding shake-up was brought in after market research revealed the word 'furnishing' was not relevant in today's brave new world.

Bosses were told the name did not do justice to the company's ability to carry out multi-million pound fitting-out contracts, both traditional and contemporary.

Nor did it reflect expertise in joinery, cabinet making and upholstery.

Millbrook Interiors has many high-profile clients in the residential, commercial, marine, hotel and leisure markets.

Among its diverse client list are Harrods, the House of Commons, the Palace of Westminster, the Ministry of Defence, Rolls-Royce, Marchwood based Discovery Yachts, luxury powerboat giant Sunseeker and the Cafe Grand Prix in London. The company, which has its headquarters at Calmore, Totton, also fitted out the QM2 Terminal at Southampton's docks.

A spokesman said: "A recent review of the company's projects and clients highlighted that the company name no longer described the work and current contracts we carry out."

Managing director Mark Croll, pictured, said: "We are all delighted with our new branding."

The interiors section, which is also into refurbishment and renovation, is one of four separate divisions under the umbrella of Millbrook Group Industries, which has a £45m turnover and employs 750 people across the UK.

The company also handcrafts beds, supplies services to the NHS and paint sprays armoured vehicles in mobile units.