Lincoln Heritage Workshop in the running for Family Business of the Year Award 2022
Make An Entrance Ltd, the Lincoln based bespoke doormat specialists, have been named as Finalists in the prestigious Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Celebrating Small Business Awards 2022.
The family firm and Team Lincolnshire ambassador has been shortlisted for East Midlands Family Business of the Year following a year of considerable growth in their retail and B2B operations.
The business is owned and run by husband-and-wife team, Stuart and Samantha Burlton and was launched in 2005 building on charitable roots. Stuart’s Father had historically run a factory for the Royal School for the Blind, providing skilled work for visually impaired team members.
The Burlton family launched makeanentrance.com in 2005, very early in the world of e-commerce. Their online business provides exceptional quality bespoke doormats to homes and businesses throughout the UK.
Today their custom matting workshop in LN6, Lincolnshire, is training people in hand stitched coir doormat making, a traditional skill which had all but died out until Make An Entrance revived it in 2019.
In years gone by, all doormats were made this way, but over the years the skills were lost, and cheaper imports took over. Handmade mats are long lasting, eco-friendly and 100% biodegradable.
The Burltons and their team are reversing the decline and making traditional high-quality coconut mats in Britain once more.
Under the leadership of Sam and Stuart Burlton, the business continually innovates and develops its range.
In the past year the company has innovated and invested in new machinery to increase their range of UK made products, creating jobs in the process.
During 2020 and 2021, despite the pandemic, the business continued to recruit and create skilled manufacturing jobs for people across the age spectrum.
Stuart said:
“We are honoured that all the hard work, not just from myself and Sam but by every single member of our team has been recognised by such a well-known business organisation. It’s put a renewed spring in our step.”
The FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards are a celebration of the achievements and contributions of small businesses and the self-employed across the UK.
Make An Entrance is a Finalist in the Family Business of the Year East Midlands category. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Leicester on Wednesday 6th April.