Nationwide Platforms wraps up Christmas

The UK's largest provider of Christmas decoration displays has signed a three year contract with Nationwide Platforms, part of Lavendon Access Services, for the supply of powered access equipment.

Centre Design specialises in decoration installation in some of the biggest shopping centres in the UK, including Bluewater in London, the MetroCentre in Gateshead and Meadowhall in Sheffield, and has, for the first time, agreed an extended deal with an access platform company.

Stuart Lee, logistics manager for Centre Design, says in the past there have been difficulties in acquiring a long term contract with a powered access supplier.

"The use of access platforms is a critically important part of the process of installing decorations. Historically we have been continually let down by suppliers in terms of reliability of machines and the quality of a back-up service.

"Every year, we have been obliged to seek out new suppliers in a quest to find one that delivers a standard that works in our industry. We had almost become resigned to the fact that poor reliability was endemic within the powered access industry.

However, Mr Stuart says his company was impressed by Nationwide's adherence to quality procedures at depot level.

"We appointed Nationwide Platforms for the 2010/2011 season based on their internal engineering quality processes and also because of their willingness to set up a tailored project management team and their eagerness to understand and immerse themselves in the peculiarities of our industry.

"Centre Design now wants to strive for even better standards as the contract progresses and we look forward to enhancing our working relationship with Nationwide Platforms and achieving that aim."

Nationwide Platforms will be supplying Centre Design with powered access platforms for around 60 shopping centres around the UK this Christmas.