Heckmondwike (part of the National Floorcoverings Ltd. group) are proud to announce that we have recently partnered with fantastic local charity Cleckheaton Food Bank, to help them make a difference within our neighbouring communities.
Looking for a way to give back to those in need locally, we got in contact with Cleckheaton Food Bank, and after an initial conversation and a couple of meetings it was agreed that we would provide two volunteer delivery drivers and the company van on a weekly basis, to assist in handing out pre-packed food parcels for the food bank.
Set up in early 2020 as a direct result of the pandemic, Cleckheaton Food Bank currently prepares and hands out up to 50 parcels a week. The pandemic, Brexit and the cost-of-living crisis have all resulted in more and more families finding it increasingly difficult to support themselves, with basic living requirements such as food becoming progressively more unaffordable. Now more than ever this service is being called upon by families in Cleckheaton and the surrounding areas, whose lives have been made more difficult by the crises.
Jason McKelvey, Works Manager here at Heckmondwike said, “As a company, we were keen to increase our engagement with the local community, and so held a group management meeting where we discussed what we could do within the local area to help. We were keen that we did something that would make a real difference for people locally, and with the food bank being such a key part of helping those in the area in need, it was the perfect choice to give back.”
Josie Pugsley, Volunteer Coordinator at Cleckheaton Food Bank said, “When Heckmondwike and National Floorcoverings first contacted us, we were blown away with their offer. We are entirely volunteer run, and having a local company offer to support us in such a way is amazing. It’s important to us that Cleckheaton food bank is part of our local community – getting local businesses involved in such a direct way is just brilliant.”
David Rhodes, Group Managing Director for National Floorcoverings Ltd added, “I am very proud of the way in which the Heckmondwike staff and employees have taken on the challenge of giving back to the local community across both our manufacturing sites and look forward to seeing our partnership with Cleckheaton food bank develop. As a business, we will continue to find and support other deserving causes long into the future.”
If you’d like to find out more about how you can help, please contact CleckheatonFoodBank@gmail.com or visit https://cleckheatonfoodbank.weebly.com/ for more information.
Classrooms are bustling, lively environments. Students and teachers are constantly coming and going, but the space still needs to be calm and tranquil enough to allow students to thrive.
What’s more, a classroom needs to be designed to inspire and foster big ambitions. Therefore, it should incorporate colours and patterns that stimulate learning, without distracting students from their studies.
Flooring is one of the most important decisions when it comes to classroom design. Underfoot all the time, the right flooring can make or break a learning environment.
Commercial carpet is an ideal choice for the classroom for so many reasons. From acoustics to cost-effective design options, we’ve listed 6 benefits of installing commercial carpet in the classroom.
1. Amazing Acoustics
Commercial carpets are ten times more efficient at reducing sound than other flooring types. In fact, experts believe that commercial carpet can reduce airborne noise by up to 35%.
In the classroom, absorbing noise is crucial to maintaining a calm learning environment. From conversation, to scraping chairs, to moving desks, there is so much background noise that needs to be minimised.
Our fibre bonded carpets have been carefully designed to absorb as much noise as possible. In fact, our Supacord commercial carpet sheets can absorb 22dB of noise! This can be improved even further with our special acoustic backing.
2. Incredible Insulation
Commercial carpet is a very good thermal insulator, as the fibres in the material trap heat, keeping rooms warmer for longer and stopping heat from escaping through the floor. In the winter, this is a huge plus for schools looking to save on heating costs.
What’s more, even if the classroom is cold, Heckmondwike fibre-bonded carpets will still feel warm to the touch. This is a must for primary schools where children have to sit on the floor.
3. Safety is the Top Priority
In classrooms, students’ safety and well-being have to come first. Unlike hardwood floors, our fibre bonded carpets prevent slips and falls. They are hard-wearing, and will not ravel or fray, so you can have confidence in classroom safety for years to come.
Heckmondwike also offers a range of entrance and transition area products, to make sure that corridors and entrance halls are just as safe as the classrooms in an education building.
4. Inspiring Design
Commercial carpet is a great, low-cost way to introduce a pop of colour, or an interesting pattern into the classroom. By choosing a captivating carpet, classroom designers can save money by making the rest of the classroom fairly simple, so as not to distract or overwhelm students.
Our Array and Odyssey ranges feature engaging patterns in a broad variety of colours, to brighten up any classroom environment. They can be interchanged with tiles from our bestselling Supacord range to create a checkerboard pattern, break out areas, walkways and anything else you can come up with!
5. Better Hygiene
Since the pandemic, hygiene has become a renowned focus in schools. Hygienic classrooms can reduce the transmission of illnesses, which improves attendance, helping students learn.
Contrary to popular opinion, installing fibre-bonded carpet can actually improve classroom hygiene, if it’s cleaned regularly. This is because commercial carpet traps viruses and bacteria in the gaps between fibres, reducing the likelihood of transmission.
6. Comfort
Last but certainly not least, comfort is key in the classroom. Students can’t learn to the best of their ability if they don’t feel relaxed and reassured in the classroom. This is where our fibre-bonded carpets come into their own, making any classroom space feel cosy and welcoming.
Not only are they comfortable, Heckmondwike commercial carpets for education come with a seal of approval from those who count.
If you’re looking to renovate your education space this summer, why not request a free carpet sample, by contacting 01924 406 161 or emailingsales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.
When analysing student performance, classroom design is not often considered an important contributory factor. However, attentively designed classrooms can improve students’ well-being, focus and communication skills.
In fact, a study by researchers at the University of Salford found that learning environments could impact pupils’ performance by 25%.
How classroom design can impact student learning
Colour
Different colours affect the way we see and process information. Filling a classroom with colours that promote learning, communication and confidence is a great way to boost student wellbeing and help children concentrate.
- Bold vs muted
Bright colours such as red and yellow can inspire energy and creativity, but can be easily overstimulating for children who have attention issues or are neurodivergent.
Therefore, a great strategy is to use bright colours to direct attention to specific areas of interest in the classroom. Then, you can pair them with more calming, muted colours like dark blues and greens to create a learning environment that is both relaxing and inspiring.
All of our fibre bonded carpets come in an impressive range of colours. The education industry’s long standing favourite Supacord range comes in 42 colours from bright Emerald to earthy Pebble.
- Patterns and textures
Understanding how patterns and textures can work to provide different effects is a key part of sensory development for young children. Smooth, shiny textures can be interesting, but for flooring, a softer surface will be more comfortable.
Patterns can provide pockets of inspiration, especially in hallways and transition spaces. Different types or colours of carpet can be used to make creative patterns that can also function as break out areas or queuing prompts. Our Array and Broadrib ranges can be combined to do just that, like in this corridor space from St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School:
Acoustics
The noise level in a classroom can significantly impact how well children can learn.
A study from the Centre for Educational Neuroscience found that children under 8 years old with low selective attention skills struggled to concentrate in a classroom environment with loud levels of background noise.
Furthermore, high levels of classroom noise can be frustrating as well as distracting for both students and teachers, and lead to less engagement and proactive teamwork.
Flooring is a cost-effective way to make a space as quiet as possible. Fibre-bonded carpet can absorb airborne noise by up to 30%, improving classroom acoustics.
Our bestselling Supacord range reduces background noise by up to 22dB with specially designed acoustic backing.
This noise reduction can improve children’s ability to focus on their work, and allow them to feel relaxed and nurtured in their learning environment.
Comfort
Children in England spend on average 635 hours in the classroom every year. Therefore, classrooms must be comfortable inviting spaces that children are excited to be in.
Our fibre-bonded carpets provide a layer of cushioning that forms a comfortable surface for children sitting on the floor. Its anti-ravel and anti-fray technologies prevent slips and falls and make it a hard wearing and cost-effective flooring option.
Many different choices go into creating the perfect classroom design. Flooring is key to maximise possibilities in a space, as it is a cost-effective way to insert colour into a room whilst making the classroom more noise-absorbant and comfortable.
Heckmondwike FB is one of the UK’s leading commercial carpet manufacturers with over 40 years of experience in the education sector. To learn more, or request a free carpet sample, please contact 01924 406 161 or email sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.
Selecting the right carpet can be a difficult task, as factors such as safety, acoustics and environment must be taken into consideration. In this blog, our commercial carpet company shares how to choose the right carpet for communal spaces.
What type of carpet is best for commercial use?
The best kind of carpet for commercial space has to be robust enough to withstand the wear and tear of thousands of feet on a daily basis. Our fibre-bonded ranges are the most reliable due to having anti-ravel and fray technologies, as well as being cost-effective. We have five different products that make up our fibre-bonded collection, with our bestselling Supacord being popular ever since its launch in 1973.
Fibre-bonded carpet is used in most education settings, but can also be a good choice for communal areas in offices or in spaces like hallways and stairs. This is because these areas often get a large amount of traffic daily, and so need to be durable to last for many years to come.
Learn more about fibre-bonded carpets in our blog.
What are the Characteristics of Carpet?
There are many positive features of commercial carpets which can help to improve learning, productivity and even help to boost creativity. In communal areas, these can be highly beneficial, for example, acoustic properties help to keep down the noise in busy hallways. Keep reading to discover what these features are.
Incredible Acoustics
When a communal area gets busier, it also gets louder. A quieter space spreads calmness, making it a better experience for users. It is important to keep noise to a minimum in spaces such as apartment buildings, where residents live. Although other options such as insulated walls can help to control sound, selecting the right flooring is very important.
Carpet is one of the best and cheapest ways to reduce sound reverberation in a room. The thicker the carpet, the more sound benefits there are. With a BS EN ISO 10140-3 standard, our Hobnail range reduces noise impact by a maximum of 25 decibels!
Latest Technology
With so much technology available to us, it would be wise to consider some of the latest trends, when choosing the best carpet for communal spaces. Using strategic planning and supporting software can help you to fully utilise a space, from apartments to libraries.
For all of our carpet ranges, we offer BIM models on the NBS source, available via our download centre. This cutting edge software helps you to plan, design and manage your vision, in order to optimise projects.
Eco-friendly
It is more crucial than ever to assess the environmental impact of the materials used in renovations. Think about where you are buying your materials from, the values of the manufacturer and whether you are making the best choice that you can.
Our Supacord range of carpet tiles have an A+ BREEAM rating. This means that they meet high standards for indoor air quality, responsible sourcing of materials, construction waste management and more. All of our products are also UK manufactured, each retaining a 10-year warranty for a long-lasting life cycle.
Safety First
Of course, when it comes to any communal area, keeping users safe is of utmost priority. It is necessary to have fire safety management plans and vital measures, such as extinguishers and fitted fire alarms. It is also crucial to choose the right building materials.
When selecting the right carpet for a space, those with high fire class ratings are most desirable. Our Hobnail and Supacord carpet tiles have a Class B fire class rating, making them a great option. They are also anti-static, meaning that they are safe for use in rooms with computers.
What is the Best Colour Carpet not to Show Dirt?
Communal areas such as halls, break areas and stairs are often the first places to become dirty and stained due to the number of people using them daily. Therefore, choosing a colour that is less likely to show dirt is key to maintaining a good environment. The best colours to choose are deep brown and grey tones as they will hide most stains and make the appearance of dirt less noticeable. However, if you’re working to more of a colour scheme throughout your building, you can choose other darker colours such as deep green or navy which can have a similar effect.
Heckmondwike FB is one of the UK’s leading commercial carpet manufacturers, with over 40 years of experience catering for design professionals. Don’t just take our word for it though, we’re the go-to provider for Middlesex Flooring.
“We have worked with Heckmondwike FB for a number of years now and over that period have developed a great relationship with both the internal and external sales team.
They’re a joy to deal with and their fantastic products and service makes Heckmondwike FB our go-to carpet for education projects. They’re a company we can always rely on to deliver.” – Middlesex Flooring
To learn more, or request a free carpet sample, please contact 01924 406 161 or email sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.
This Christmas, we’re celebrating 12 days of Supacord! Our bestselling range is a staple in classrooms and workplaces across the country and beyond. It is our most popular carpet, and to sum up this year we wanted to share 12 (very exciting) reasons why we (and you!) love it so much.
On the first day of Supacord…
The Supacord product page was the most visited page on our website this year! That’s over 35,000 who checked out Supacord online – treemendous!
On the second day of Supacord…
The top selling colour of Supacord in both sheet and tile is Anthracite. The tonal grey is calm and comforting, as well as on-trend, which is why it works so won-deer-fully in so many different settings!
On the third day of Supacord…
Standing the test of time, the Supacord range was first launched back in 1973, almost 50 years ago! While there have been some changes to the colours, the product itself remains just as popular as it always has been.
On the fourth day of Supacord…
Supacord is approved by royalty! Back in 1998, it was installed in the brand new Michael Andrews Building for Reception, IT and Administration at the Southampton Institute of Higher Education, which HRH Princess Anne herself officially opened. You could say Supacord is fit for royal shoes…
On the fifth day of Supacord…
Supacord is tried and tested. It’s been installed in all kinds of different buildings for all kinds of different purposes, from schools and universities to apartment complexes and even churches!
On the sixth day of Supacord…
Our fibre bonded best-seller has a 10-year warranty, meaning it is officially *guaranteed* to stand the test of time.
On the seventh day of Supacord…
Supacord tiles have an acoustic backing option, which gives them a 3db increase in Impact Noise Reduction, from 19db (regular backing) to 22db (acoustic backing). Noisy classroom? Snow problem for Supacord!
On the eighth day of Supacord…
Supacord sheet comes in two widths, 2 metres and 4 metres. By using a combination of the two options for an installation, you can save money as well as reduce waste!
On the ninth day of Supacord…
Whilst still very popular in the UK, Supacord has also gone global! More recently, it was installed in a purpose-built indoor Padel court in Sweden, where it was used as the surround for centre court!
On the tenth day of Supacord…
Supacord is manufactured right here in the UK at our West Yorkshire factory, and has been since its launch almost 50 years ago. We intend to keep it that way.
On the 11th day of Supacord…
Coming in a huge selection of 42 different colours, Supacord is one of the most versatile fibre bonded products on the market.
On the 12th day of Supacord…
Sleigh, what? Over 1 million square metres of Supacord were sold in 2021!!
All in all, its been a very ex-ice-ting year for Supacord, and we can’t wait for all the fantastic things we have planned at Heckmondwike in 2022.
For more information about Supacord, and our other UK manufactured, fibre bonded carpets, contact our expert team on 01924 406 161 or email sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.
Despite competition from the hard flooring market, the value of the European rug and carpet market is set to rise over the next four years. A report by Grand View Research estimates that it will grow over 3% every year, to reach approximately £46.22 billion in 2025.
Where will the rise come from?
The UK is set to play a significant part in this rise, along with Denmark and Germany. This is somewhat surprising considering the slight drop in the UK market value during 2020-2021 due to Covid-19. People were using office buildings less, construction dramatically decreased, and there were fewer funds available for refurbishments. Currently, the market size of the UK Carpet & Rug Manufacturing Industry is £934.1m in 2021, measured by revenue.
However, there are many factors that influence potential market growth and have caused experts to predict the future rise. These include…
Sustainability
Sustainability is no longer a unique selling point and is now a necessity in the carpet industry. This will only increase in importance over the next few years.
Recycled materials are now at the heart of manufacturing processes in the European Market, with carpets that are at the end of one life cycle being reused to create new, exciting products.
Commercial carpet sector
The commercial carpet sector in particular is set to experience growth. A Future Market Insights report predicted that application in education, hospital and healthcare sectors will continue to create sustained opportunities for flooring and carpet industry manufacturers during the forecast period.
What does this mean for the UK industry?
Due to Brexit, the pound has been depreciating against the Euro. This raises the cost of imports coming in from overseas, but also makes UK manufactured products more price competitive and attractive to overseas retailers. This will hopefully help the UK carpet industry to rise in value in the coming years.
Furthermore, small companies like Heckmondwike FB and our sister company Paragon Carpet Tiles are making leaps and bounds in sustainable innovations. For example, our zero waste policy and use of recycled materials fit the market forecast. For over 50 years, we have been market leaders in pioneering the use of fibre bonded technology in the education sector. Our mission is to continue innovating for many years to come, whilst sticking to our honest Yorkshire roots.
For more information about our UK manufactured, fibre bonded carpets, contact our expert team on 01924 406 161 or email sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.
Welcome to the latest instalment of our ‘People of Heckmondwike’ blog series, where we showcase the faces behind the commercial carpet tiles manufacturer. This week, we caught up with Marketing Manager, Polly Edmondson.
Continue reading to learn all about the busy behind the scenes work that goes into promoting our products, Polly’s visions for the future and her secret showjumping career!
How long have you worked at Heckmondwike and what does your role entail?
I’m a Heckmondwike newbie, I started at the beginning of August 2021, so I have been here just over 2 months now. Although I have to say the very warm welcome I received from the whole team here makes it seem like longer – in a good way!
My role as marketing manager involves managing the promotion of all our fantastic products and the positioning of the Heckmondwike brand. I oversee all our marketing campaign planning and execution, as well as all our communications channels – our website, social media, email newsletters, brochures and sample cards, to name just a few! My job varies day to day, and can involve anything from planning an event or exhibition, to writing content, or collaborating with the sales team to find new ways to reach customers. It is super rewarding and never boring!
Tell us something that most people don’t know about you.
That I used to horse ride competitively, and my dream job as a teenager was to be a professional showjumper! I had my own horse until I went to university when life (and funds!) got in the way, so unfortunately I had to give it up. I do still try to get back in the saddle when I can though.
How do you envision the future of carpet manufacturing?
I think a bigger focus on sustainability, and improving our ‘green’ strategies, is already having, and will continue to have an increasingly higher bearing on the way carpet is manufactured.
Even from just a few months of working here at Heckmondwike, it’s clear that the environment (and minimising our impact on it) is at the forefront of our business and manufacturing practices. We continually look for every opportunity to become even more environmentally responsible and this will only continue in the future.
What is your favourite product range and why?
It has to be Odyssey from our creative range! I love the bold design, which is completely unique for fibre bonded. Whenever I see Odyssey installation photos, I always really love the finish it creates. I think it’s also very versatile, whether used in an office space or a school classroom, it can be mixed with our other products such as Supacord, to form an even more striking and modern look.
Finally, favourite biscuit to have with a brew?
Custard Cream always! No explanation needed.
Contact our expert team for more information about our extensive product range. Call 01924 406 161 or email sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.
Heckmondwike is delighted to be exhibiting at this year’s Education Estates® exhibition, taking place on Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th October at the Manchester Central Conference Centre, marking a welcome return to in-person events and exhibitions.
As a market-leading carpet provider for the education sector, we are proud to be showcasing our range of high quality, durable and stylish fibre bonded carpets, suitable for any educational environment. This includes our most widely recognised and specified product, Supacord – perfect for the education sector. Also in focus will be our entrance & transition area range, including robust entrance carpets such as Battleship/Hippo and bespoke entrance products, often used in conjunction with our fibre bonded and creative ranges for a full fit-out solution.
Our objective is to create carpets that work with their surroundings to offer a practical solution, in addition to being efficient and cost-effective every time. With anti-ravel and anti-fray properties, an unrivalled colour bank, the benefit of reduced impact noise, plus our extensive fibre bonded, creative and entrance solution ranges, it’s no surprise that Heckmondwike carpets have been used in education environments for over 50 years.
This year’s stand at the two day exhibition will provide visitors with an excellent opportunity to talk one-to-one with our experienced sales representatives, who are happy to help with your specific project requirements. Come along to chat to us and find out more at stand B23, where we will be displaying alongside our sister companies – Paragon Carpet Tiles and Mat.works Entrance Solutions.
Education Estates®, in partnership with the Department for Education, is now in its 9th year, and is widely known as the annual gathering of the Education Community. With over 100 exhibits across both days, plus more than 150 speakers across 6 stages, the event is all about discovering ways to transform and refine internal and external learning environments into sustainable and adaptive spaces, from school through to university.
Come to visit us, and register for your place by clicking here.
Here at Heckmondwike FB, we believe that where we are based says a lot about who we are as a company.
As the name suggests, our factory is located near Heckmondwike, a small town in West Yorkshire. Since the company was founded in the 1960s, our values have always been very straight-talking, honest and true to our Yorkshire roots.
Our emphasis on transparency and access to the highest quality materials have been key factors in creating the legacy that we now hold in the UK education sector and beyond.
So with that spirit in mind, here is a guided tour around the key processes we use to manufacture our fibre bonded carpets.
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Arrival of the fibre
The first step in creating our carpets is receiving the shipments of fibres at our Goods Inwards department. Fibre is the basic material that a carpet is made up of, with over ninety percent of all carpets now crafted from synthetic fibres.
The fibres we receive are predominately polypropylene and nylon fibres which are then colour matched to make sure they are up to the highest standard.
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Blend, blend, blend!
The fibres are blended together to create different bespoke mixtures of colours and textures for each range we offer. We don’t just mix colours, we also combine types of fibres in order to create material blends that have different textures and durabilities. The blending also opens up the fibres, preparing them for the next process; to be made into carpet.
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It’s needle time
The fibres are further mixed ready to be carded; a process of separating the individual fibres using a course of dividing and redividing steps, which ultimately causes the fibres to lie parallel to one another, eliminating any remaining impurities.
In their carded form the fibres are presented to the first pre-needling process, where they are needled into a sheet with multiple layers. After this, they are further needled, which compresses those layers, forming a blank canvas for the designs.
Last in this stage, the needled carpet is structured by unique structuring needles, meaning it is essentially ‘imprinted’ with its pattern and texture.
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Finishing touches
To ensure the highest quality end product, we apply a latex coating in our backing plant which further bonds the fibres. The carpet can be backed with a variety of different backing materials, depending on the final product required. We use a number of other different types of backing including foam, crumb and acoustic. For our carpet tiles, a bitumen back is added at our sister factory Paragon Carpet Tiles.
Finally, the finished carpet product heads to despatch, ready to be delivered across the UK to a variety of destinations including schools, offices, universities and apartment complexes – to name just a few!
All in all, we’re really proud of how we manufacture our fibre-bonded carpets in our Yorkshire factory. Especially as all of our products are quality tested to industry and environmental standards before being approved.
Why not order a free sample today to experience our high-quality carpets for yourself, or get in touch on 01924410544.
In our new ‘People of Heckmondwike’ blog series, we’re showcasing the faces behind the commercial carpet tiles manufacturer. This week, we introduce you to our Commercial Manager, Jeremy Broadhead.
Read on to find out his vision for the future of carpet manufacturing, his favourite product range and his preferred biscuit to dunk in a brew.
How long have you worked at Heckmondwike?
I have worked at Heckmondwike for 10 years now, and it has been great to see the company change and adapt over that time.
Day-to-day, I work alongside our internal and external sales team, along with our production team. I ensure that we always hold the values of the business at heart and offer the perfect customer service every time.
Tell us something that most people don’t know about you.
It’s really difficult to think of anything – in a previous life I was a Rugby Union scrum half. Therefore, I like to talk a lot, so most people know everything about me! One thing that I don’t say enough is that I love my family, friends, colleagues and sport equally.
How do you envision the future of carpet manufacturing?
Fibre-bonded carpet tiles will have an amazing future, and will be used for years to come. I am incredibly excited to reveal what our product development guys have up their sleeve for 2021 and beyond.
What is your favourite product range and why?
It has to be the Array carpet tiles, as they demonstrate just how creative fibre-bonded commercial carpet tiles can be. They’re so good that I even have them in my office!
Finally, favourite biscuit to have with a brew?
As if I would have a biscuit with my tea.. but if I did, it would have to be a chocolate digestive. Just be careful with the dunking.
Contact our expert team for more information about our extensive product range. Call 01924 406 161 or email sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.