As a result of a 10-year strategic acquisition and organic growth programme Havelock Europa has established a strong and diversified position spanning – educational interiors and supplies; retail, banking, hotel and healthcare interiors; and point of sale print and display. The key strategy has been to focus on UK growth markets that are supported by committed government infrastructure spend.

Key dates

2007 Showcard Print acquires a new KBA Rapida large-format, lithographic press for the Letchworth plant. This   significantly increases capacity and places Showcard Print at the leading edge of large format print technology.

Havelock Europa acquires Stage Systems Ltd of Loughborough, the UK market leader in modular staging and height adjustable, ergonomic classroom furniture. This expands the Group’s product range in the growth education market and provides Stage Systems Ltd with access to new market sectors.

2005 Havelock Europa merges its two point of sale print businesses, Showcard Print in Letchworth and Hartcliffe in Bristol, into one strong and competitive print business under the Showcard Print brand. The new combined business offers the latest in large-format digital, screen and lithographic print technology and fulfilment and is one of the five biggest point of sale print businesses in Britain.

2004 As part of its continuing diversification into the high-growth educational sector, Havelock Europa acquires TeacherBoards Ltd, Skipton, and Clean Air Ltd, Bolton.

Spearheading its further diversification into the growth healthcare sector Havelock Europa also establishes a new division, ESA Healthcare, based in Dalgety Bay, Fife to provide bespoke interiors for primary, secondary and LIFT healthcare facilities.

2001 Havelock Europa announces its diversification strategy into the growth educational sector with the acquisition of ESA McIntosh, Kirkcaldy, Fife – the UK’s leading provider of educational furniture and fittings.

1998 Havelock Europa sets up a joint venture with American Home Industries in the Middle East (Havelock AHI Holdings Ltd). Havelock AHI is now a leading Bahrain based manufacturer of high quality furniture, joinery products and shop-fitting equipment. The company designs, manufactures and installs interiors for hotels, royal palaces, shops, banks, offices, department stores and private residences.

1997 Havelock Europa acquires Hartcliffe Point of Sale, Bristol. There are now three point of sale companies in the Havelock Group with a combined turnover of nearly £30m, making Havelock Europa one of the largest suppliers of Point of Sale and Point of Purchase displays in the UK.

1996 Havelock Europa enters the point of sale and print markets by acquiring the Showcard Group, Letchworth. Showcard Group comprises Showcard Print, which offers point of sale print solutions, and Showcard Display, which offers three-dimensional permanent and temporary point-of-purchase and product merchandising display solutions.

1992 Havelock Europa enters the financial services market in partnership with NCR with innovative self service solutions based on modular furniture for the ‘Bank Branch of the Future’.

1989 Havelock Europa is restructured and the number of manufacturing units is reduced from 12 to 2.

1989 Havelock Europa comes under new management, headed by Sir Lewis Robertson as Chairman and Hew Balfour as Chief Executive.

1988 Havelock Europa purchases Boots the Chemists’ shopfitting division.

1987 Havelock Europa Ltd gravitates to the Main Exchange (Stock Market) as Havelock Europa PLC.

1986 Havelock Europa Ltd merges with the highly successful Store Design Ltd shopfitting operation in Dalgety Bay, Fife.

1982 Havelock Europa Ltd ceases to be wholly owned by J Mackays (Drapers) Ltd and is floated on the Unlisted Securities Market.

1974 J Mackays (Drapers) Ltd shopfitting division is floated as a stand-alone company called Havelock Europa Ltd and commences trading in Sneddon Street, Paisley.

1972 J Mackays (Drapers) Ltd shopfitting division is formed.

1970 J Mackays (Drapers) Ltd acquires Ghinns Ltd.

At the same time Store Design (one of Havelock’s early competitors in shopfitting) is founded in Dalgety Bay, Fife.

1966 Havelock Textiles Ltd changes its name to Havelock Europa Ltd and continues trading as a subsidiary of Ghinns until 1973.

1963 Havelock Textiles (Forrest Hill) Ltd is established as a subsidiary of Ghinns Ltd (a retail draper based in Peckham, London).