'Phenomenal' comeback for Sheffield holiday lodge company set to create 150 jobs

Coppergreen Leisure Resorts closed its parks and furloughed 90 per cent of staff - some 360 people - during lockdown. It arranged an emergency £2.5m overdraft to see it through the crisis.

Now, as the UK goes staycation crazy, 388 of the 400 workers are back and it is set for multi-million pound expansion that could create 150 jobs.

Boss David Copley said they were inundated with calls the minute lockdown eased in early July.

Their four sites were 100 per cent full throughout July, August and September - and October, November and December are “getting there.” Bookings have continued at record levels into 2021, he added.

With little sign of oversea travel returning to normality, the company hopes to build two new parks costing millions and creating up to 150 jobs. It has options to buy two sites in England, subject to planning approval.

In June, Donna Copley, the firm’s financial director, said they initially feared having to close permanently.

Mr Copley, said: “April, June and July were three very difficult months for us. Today we have some restrictions on our facilities, like swimming and gym numbers and there are no weddings.

“But from a bookings point of view it is phenomenal.

“Foreign travel is very difficult at the moment, it’s really helping the UK market.

“There are no restrictions on lodges for a family, or even two in a bubble. You can have no contact with anyone if you don’t want to.

“Our locations are in the countryside and there are plenty of things to do.”

Coppergreen owns resorts in Dundee, Thirsk in North Yorkshire, Kenwick in Lincolnshire, and Clumber in Nottinghamshire.

From October, Woodland Lakes near Thirsk will be the third site to be marketed by travel giant Hoseasons.

Its support has seen European guest numbers rise from 0.2 per cent to 12 per cent today, giving a boost to the UK economy, Mr Copley added.

The firm is supported by the Business Growth Fund, backed by a consortium of banks, and HSBC.

Barry Jackson, investor in BGF's Yorkshire team, said: "Consumer confidence is still paramount and businesses such as Coppergreen have worked hard to ensure customers have peace of mind that they will be in a safe and clean environment throughout their stay.

“People are also looking to travel away from cities with the latest Visit Britain figures demonstrating the majority of UK holiday-makers are opting for regional and rural destinations.

“There's an opportunity to attract new demographics of visitor, especially for a business like Coppergreen which in partnership with BGF has invested in recent years in new sites, installing luxury lodges and opening spa facilities. BGF’s long-term investment model ensured that we could look beyond the immediate challenges earlier this year. The business has performed well since re-opening with the management team demonstrating their quality and capability in these continuing uncertain times.”

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