Ethical play provider finds Cosy new home

A COMPANY that prides itself on supplying “ethical” educational outdoor play equipment to schools and nurseries is moving to a new £2 million warehouse.

Cosy Direct is leaving its current premises, The Chocolate Factory, in Siddalls Road for a 45,000 sq ft, specially adapted building set in two acres of land on the Derbyshire/ Staffordshire border near Tutbury.

The new building, which will be called the Crater, will double the company’s current capacity.

Eco-friendly features include rainwater harvesting and solar panels and it boasts a large green outdoors area complete with curved seating, a story circle and fire pit.

Last year Cosy posted an £8.4 million turnover, and is working on growing over the coming months, including increasing exports six-fold and widening its product range and supply network, which is made up predominantly of small local companies.

Its former home will be taken over by Bustler Market, a monthly indoor street food venue.

Cosy Direct employs 80 people and was set up in 2011 by Peter Ellse, who wanted to establish an educational supplies company that was built along ethical lines, in order to promote a healthier learning culture for young children aged up to eight. It supplies schools, councils and nurseries across the UK with thousands of items including climbing frames, reading shelters, story chairs and wooden counting blocks.

It prides itself on its sustainable approach to business, with 87 per cent of its products sourced from the UK in order to reduce air miles.

It also has an emphasis on reusing and reinventing end-of-life products such as rubber tyres, of which it sells 10,000 every year by transforming them into mirrors, grass-covered seating or whiteboard circles.

Mr Ellse said: “It’s an incredibly exciting time, but although we are leaving Derby in body, we are staying in spirit, by continuing to back charitable and community causes that are important to us, while we will also be leaving a few Cosy products behind in the Chocolate Factory for Bustler’s to make use of, as part of a lasting legacy.”

Cosy shares 10 per cent of its profits with charities and community initiatives in Derby and abroad, including Derby Kids Camp, Derby Book Festival and the YMCA, and sponsors five city children’s sports teams.