A NEW window of opportunity has opened for a Basingstoke-based company after moving to bigger offices.

David Medcraft and his wife Lynnette founded Brackenwood Windows and Conservatories in 1987, with a £10,000 loan from NatWest bank.

Now the commercial arm of the same bank has funded Brackenwood to buy the freehold of a building in Lister Road, Basingstoke.

The deal for the 31,000sqft building brought together a team of Basingstoke professionals - Mark Jones, manager of commercial banking at NatWest, Tim Davies, from Penningtons solicitors, commercial property consultant Peter Woodford, of Woodford and Company, and Mark Lane, from accountants Tenon.

Mr Medcraft, managing director of Brackenwood, said: "It is always best to work with people you know and on your doorstep."

Brackenwood has been based in Onslow Close for 15 years and has now invested around £180,000 on the refurbishment of its new headquarters, which includes warehousing and a showroom set to open in a few weeks time.

Naturally, the company has installed its own new windows, with self-cleaning glass, in the building.

Mr Medcraft said: "We are experimenting with the self-cleaning glass in our own offices and, if it works, we will offer it to our customers."

Brackenwood is totally committed to the domestic market and has built up turnover to £7million. Now Mr Medcraft has ambitious plans for expansion which will see turnover soar to £20million a year.

He explained: "We want to expand and dominate our operating area of Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey over the next five years.

"The old building held us back. This new building is the turning point for us."

He added: "We are a successful and growing company, and our success is highlighted in the need for new and larger premises.

"This represents a significant step forward in the company's history, and working with NatWest has enabled us to continue to meet our business ambitions and provide capacity for further growth over the coming years."

Brackenwood has created jobs for 80 people since being founded. Seventeen staff are based in Basingstoke but Mr Medcraft expects that to rise to about 45 as he sets his expansion plans in motion.

He said: "We want to be a strong regional company - not a national one."

Under his leadership, Brackenwood has collected several awards, and last year became approved by Hampshire County Council's "Buy with Confidence" scheme.

Mr Jones said: "Brackenwood Windows is a great example of a local success story and we are delighted to have assisted in its development."