NPIF - FW Capital CBILS backed loan gets Lancaster business back on track

By FW Capital

21 Sep 2020

oep-building-services-5-resized.jpg

Specialist prefabricated bathroom supplier OEP Building Services has received a £400,000 NPIF loan backed by the Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme (CBILS) from NPIF – FW Capital Debt Finance, which is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

The Lancaster-based business, which began trading in 2001, initially provided bathroom pods and furniture to the student accommodation market through its manufacturing facility in Poland.

More recently OEP moved into the private housing sector and in 2019 the company moved its manufacturing facility to the UK creating 60 jobs.

Since then OEP has seen a surge in demand for its bathroom pods from residential property developers including Berkeley Homes Group, Graham Construction and HG Construction and Bougues.  

However, the company lost a month’s revenue during March as it was forced to close at the beginning of the lockdown. 

OEP is run by directors Iain Crabtree, David Cowperthwaite and Nick Moore. The company employs 140 staff and turnover last year reached over £14.7M.

David Cowperthwaite said: “Property developers have moved away from building bathrooms onsite to installing pre-fabricated bathroom pods.

“These pods need to be of a very high standard, so we moved manufacturing from Poland back to the UK so that we have better quality control.

“Access to the CBILS scheme has been very important to help get the business into a good position so that we can continue to grow.  

“Despite closing for a month, we’ve been flat out since we got back and are now back on track. We’ve taken on 30 new staff and are on course for revenue to stay the same as last year and a predicted of £22M in 2021.”

FW Capital investment executive Andy Traynor said: “OEP needed assistance with cashflow to help grow the business during a period of trading uncertainty as a consequence of Covid-19 restrictions.  

“We are very pleased to have been able to support them during this unprecedented time and would urge other businesses that have experienced any dip in trading as a result of Covid-19, to contact us whilst the CBILS scheme is still in place until the end of September.”

Steve Fogg, Chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership said: “Issues with cashflow due to lockdown restrictions is a constant theme emerging from our conversations with businesses.  CBILS is an effective way of helping businesses over the shorter term to stabilise and give them the breathing space they need to focus on recovery and returning to growth.  

“The pandemic has had an adverse effect on both businesses and people's livelihoods, and it will be some time before we understand the full impact. The support packages have been put in place by Government are an attempt to mitigate some of the effects and it good to see businesses such as OEP Building Services using them to full effect.''

Sue Barnard at British Business Bank said: “This investment exemplifies the work of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund in Lancashire and the wider North of England. By supporting businesses with vital funds, we are creating a more prosperous regional economy for the future, and in turn, help to reduce  regional disparities between the North and the South. We will endeavor to support regional businesses in any way we can throughout and following this pandemic.”  

Latest news

1

PM urged not to retaliate over tariffs Manufacturing

PM urged not to retaliate over tariffs

03 Apr 2025

2

CMAC Group appoints Matthew Ratcliffe as chief operating officer Matthew Ratcliffe CMAC

CMAC Group appoints Matthew Ratcliffe as chief operating officer

03 Apr 2025

3

For sale signs at The Villa Villa Wrea Green has been brought to market (Image credit: The Villa Wrea Green)

For sale signs at The Villa

02 Apr 2025

4

Montane group expands with new Lancashire hub Anthony Rae Scott Murcott And Adam Lee

Montane group expands with new Lancashire hub

02 Apr 2025

5

Trio of wins for Lancaster brand and digital consultancy Tom Grattan MD and Daniel Wallace

Trio of wins for Lancaster brand and digital consultancy

02 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Lancashire Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880395853-4862066883-1-original.20241022-091152-2.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
04 Apr 2025 - 04 Apr 2025

Lancashire Business Expo 2025

Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre, Preston, PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
24 Apr 2025 - 24 Apr 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

People Power: Exclusive Event Series
Stay ahead in 2025.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
29 Apr 2025 - 29 Apr 2025

People Power: Exclusive Event Series

People's History Museum, Manchester, M3 3ER

17:00 - 21:00

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar
LBV Hub Seminars
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar

Cottons Hotel & Spa , Knutsford, WA16 0SU

16:00 - 18:00

Liverpool Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-881365363-4862066883-1-original.20241023-085714.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
23 May 2025 - 23 May 2025

Liverpool Business Expo 2025

Aintree Racecourse , Liverpool , L9 5AS

09:00 - 15:00

National Centre for Remote and Rural Medicine Conference 2025
Remote and Rural 3.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
05 Jun 2025 - 05 Jun 2025

National Centre for Remote and Rural Medicine Conference 2025

North Lakes Hotel and Spa, Penrith, CA11 8QT

09:30 - 17:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin