COVID-19 UPDATE

COVID-19 UPDATE

3 April 2020

In these highly uncertain and difficult times, I hope that you and your families are staying well and doing all that is necessary to keep yourselves, your neighbours, colleagues and the wider health services as protected as possible.

Much has changed in all our lives over the last few weeks and I want to update you on what has been happening at DK Group.

In a Group of businesses as diverse as DK different responses have been necessary in different places.

Where possible, and with the safety of our colleagues at the centre of all that we do, we have remained open to support our customers. This has sometimes involved significant but essential changes to working practices to maintain social distancing. Elsewhere falling demand has led us to reduce production or temporarily close altogether.

We continue with all guidance and advice issued by Governments and are monitoring daily developments closely. Each business is adopting the approach best suited to their industry, site and specific requirements, whilst complying with all best practice requirements. However, consistent approaches across all sites are as follows:

  • Wherever possible our teams are working from home and have been equipped to ensure no reduction in service levels to our customers
  • Business travel has been reduced to virtually zero.
  • The highest possible hygiene standards have been maintained across each site.

Whenever the time is deemed appropriate by the relevant authorities and the needs of our customers, we have our plans in place for a rapid return to more normal ways of working.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will update you with any further changes we make to our approach.

Please stay safe and together we will come through this.

 

Kevin Higginson

Group CEO

DK Group Investments.

COVID-19 UPDATE

I hope that you, your families and colleagues are all well and that you are taking the appropriate safeguards to protect yourselves.

In view of the rapidly changing situation regarding COVID-19 I would like to reassure you that business at DK Group continues as usual.

We are complying with all guidance and advice issued by Governments and are monitoring daily developments closely. Our business continuity plans are now in action to ensure the least possible disruption in service to our customers whilst ensuring the wellbeing of our teams, their families and the wider community.

We have a diverse Group of businesses and each is adopting the approach best suited to their industry, site and specific requirements, whilst complying with all best practice requirements. However, consistent approaches across all sites are as follows

  • Where possible our teams are working from home and are appropriately equipped to ensure no reduction in service levels.
  • We have reduced business travel to essential journeys only, for the safety of our employees, customers and suppliers
  • Site specific measures to maintain the highest possible hygiene standards have been introduced

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will update you with any further changes we make to our approach.,

Kevin Higginson

Group CEO

DK Group Investments…

DK Group invests in GE Door Manufacturing

DK Group invests in GE Door Manufacturing

GE DoorsDK Group Investments (“DK Group”) and GE Door Solutions (“GE Doors”) are delighted to announce that DK Group has acquired an initial 75% stake in the GE Door Manufacturing’s business ( including the subsidiaries GE Door Manufacturing and GE Carpentry Services) for an undisclosed sum. The remaining 25% will be acquired over the following 4 years.
GE Door Manufacturing based in Maesteg, South Wales, was founded by its Chairman Gary Evans in 1999 and has established itself as a leading player in the manufacture of commercial doorsets. It now has annual sales in excess of £8m .In addition, it has a rapidly growing in house Ironmongery operation offering clients certified doorsets inclusive of all the associated ironmongery.

GE Door Manufacturing has over 85,000 sq ft of manufacturing space,and 66 employees, utilising the latest technology for manufacturing and finishing of doors, doorsets and timber screens. It operates across a broad range of sectors, including health, education, mental health, commercial and residential, and is leading the way in terms of offering its own comprehensive fire certification. GE Doors primarily operates across, Wales, the South West and the Midlands, and recently expanded nationally supporting key customers serviced by its own fleet of delivery vehicles.

DK Group, a family owned business, has been trading since the early 1980’s with activities across a range of industrial sectors. In recent years it has continued to develop its portfolio of activities through further investment and acquisitions. Its aim is to create a group of entrepreneurial, empowered businesses that operate independently within a clear reporting structure and a strong corporate governance framework.

DK Group believe that GE is the ideal business to complement its existing portfolio and that GE Door Manufacturing will benefit from the long term investment perspective of a family owned company.
GE Door Manufacturing will continue to be managed by its existing executive team led by Jason Pincombe as Managing Director. Gary Evans will continue as a Director and have an ongoing role in the business. DK directors Kevin Higginson and Richard Cookman will also join the GE Board.

Gary Evans and Jason Pincombe commented:
“DK Group, as a family owned business, shares the GE Door Manufacturing business philosophy, and by joining forces, we will be creating a platform for continued growth for both GE Doors and DK Group. We look forward to working with Kevin Higginson and his team,”

Kevin Higginson, CEO of DK Group Investments said:
“I am thrilled to welcome Gary, Jason and the entire GE Door Manufacturing’s team to the DK Group and its family of businesses. We are excited by the opportunities available to GE Door Manufacturing to continue its strong growth in the UK specialist doors market. We look forward to working with and investing in the GE Doors business, to make the most of these opportunities.”
DK Group continues to seek further value enhancing acquisition opportunities into which to invest its current cash resources, across a broad range of industrial sectors.

For further information please contact

Kevin Higginson, DK Group – khigginson@dkgroup.uk.com
14 February 2019

DK Group appoints Richard Cookman as Group Finance Director

DK Group have announced the appointment of Richard Cookman as its Group Finance Director.

richard_cookmanRichard qualified as a chartered accountant with a leading accounting and consultancy firm, before moving into industry.

He brings extensive experience to the Group, having worked as the Group Financial Controller for a biotechnology company and a Divisional Finance Director for a FTSE listed building and engineering products supplier.

Commenting on Richard’s appointment, Kevin Higginson, Chief Executive of DK Group said:

“I am very pleased that Richard has joined DK Group and I am looking forward to working with him.”

Commenting on his appointment, Richard Cookman said:

“I am delighted to be joining DK Group at such an exciting time in the Group’s development. I am very much looking forward to working with Kevin and the rest of the senior management team to build on the group’s success and in driving DK Group forward.”

DK brings Lemonpath’s contract packing and logistics skills into the Group

DK Group Investments is delighted to announce that is has acquired Lemonpath, a leading operator in the contract packing and logistics sectors.

Lemonpath provides contract packing and logistics services to a wide ranging customer base, operating in sectors including, fashion, food, retail, gift, garden, print, point of sale, DIY and wholesale. They have c.300,000 sq. ft. at two principal facilities at Syston near Leicester and Loughborough.

Lemonpath has very successfully grown revenues and profits over the last ten years by providing consistently outstanding service levels to its customers.

Chris Antliff, the founder and former owner of Lemonpath will remain as Managing Director of Lemonpath and will join the DK Group senior management team (SMT). As with all the members of the SMT, Chris will also have responsibilities across the wider group.

Chris commented: “DK Group, as a family owned business, shares the Lemonpath philosophy of outstanding customer service. By joining forces with DK, we will be creating a platform for growth for both Lemonpath and DK”.

Kevin Higginson, CEO of DK Group Investments said:

“I am delighted to welcome Chris and the Lemonpath team to the DK Group. Chris has been hugely successful in growing Lemonpath over the last ten years. The DK senior management team are now looking forward to working with Chris to drive the DK Group growth strategy forward over the coming years”.

The enlarged DK Group is a leading player in the, Auto Logistics, Contract Packing and Fulfilment and Packaging sectors. It will have revenues well in excess of £45m, with over 600 employees, up to 400 agency staff at times of peak demand, and occupies facilities in excess of 1million sq. ft., across 10 sites, in the UK and Germany.