Innovative Tyneside Entrepreneur Secures Investment to Revolutionize Holiday Lodges

A Tyneside entrepreneur who came up with a cool alternative to concrete foundations for holiday lodges has just secured some investment to help grow his business. Andy Gabel, who introduced ground screws to the UK over ten years ago, has recently launched a new system for securing lightweight holiday lodges without the need for tons of concrete. His company, Groundscrew4u, also offers other products for domestic and commercial structures like garden rooms, home offices, and modular classrooms.

Mr. Gabel showcased his innovative Staygrounded product at the Great Holiday Home Show in Harrogate last month, and it’s already caught the attention of some big industry players. He’s got a bunch of new projects lined up for next year. Thanks to a £50,000 investment from the North East Small Loan Fund, which was arranged through NEL Fund Managers, Mr. Gabel will be able to market his system and take it to trade shows.

With the expected increase in demand over the next year, Groundscrew4u plans to double its team of installers, which currently stands at eight. Mr. Gabel explained, “Ground screws are a faster and cleaner solution for solid foundations compared to traditional concrete foundations. Plus, they have a much lower environmental impact, which is a big deal for businesses trying to be more eco-friendly. When we saw an opportunity to enter the holiday park industry, we spent months designing and testing a system that we know works and will also save thousands of tons of concrete from being poured into the ground every year. Our Staygrounded launch got a lot of attention from industry leaders, and since it’s easy to use and install, we can quickly train new installers to meet the high demand we’re expecting.

This system is the only one of its kind in the UK and has been approved by all the major trade bodies in the holiday park and leisure sector. It’s also fully insured, so with the investment from NEL, we’re ready to make it a huge success. It was important for us to get funding from within the North East and to work with a team that made us feel comfortable and supported throughout the investment process.” Jonathan Armitage, an investment executive at NEL Fund Managers, added, “Andy and his team have used their expertise to create a unique system that will bring significant efficiency and environmental benefits to customers.”

The North East Small Loan Fund, which is part of the larger £130m North East Fund, provides loans of up to £100,000 to smaller SMEs in Tyne & Wear, Durham, and Northumberland.