AN AWARD-WINNING North-East architectural design business has gone on the market and is sure to attract interest from established professionals and new start-ups alike.

Gordon Henderson, from Redcar, founded GR Henderson Architectural Design more than 30 years ago, and in that time has worked on projects all over the Tees Valley.

Now he’s putting the thriving business up for sale, along with its robust client base and substantial order books.

The Northern Echo: The firm won two awards in the Cleveland Council Design Awards for work conducted in SaltburnThe firm won two awards in the Cleveland Council Design Awards for work conducted in Saltburn

Gordon said: “We want to offer the business in such a way that a buyer can walk straight in and pick up where we left off with. We’re fortunate to be in a position where the business is doing very well, and it would suit someone looking to grow their own firm or for someone just setting up.”

Gordon, who entered the industry aged just 17, worked for architectural firms and for local authorities across the North-East, before launching his own business in 1990.

GR Henderson Architectural Design went on to win two accolades in the Cleveland Council Design Awards 2008, and leave behind them a succession of satisfied customers.

The Northern Echo:

“We do all types of work,” Gordon says proudly. “Most architects tend to specialise, but we found there was a ready market for a multifaceted team, one which could turn its hand to anything. It’s a very broad spectrum of work, but it seems to still be growing. We’re generally very busy.

“We talk about the customers’ needs, we guide them if they need guidance, take them through the plans and drawings, and submit all the planning permission and building regulations paperwork.

“Our ethos has always been to make it simple for the client, to follow their requirements, and guide them through the whole process.”

But now Gordon is ready for a well-earned retirement.

“It’s the right time to sell the business,” he says. “Because the work keeps coming, it’s still incredibly busy, but the industry is changing rapidly.

“There’s huge potential to grow the business for someone who wants to develop the social media side of it, for example, which is something we’ve never explored. But for someone who understands that whole world, there’s a huge opportunity.”

The Northern Echo: Gordon’s final project has been dubbed ‘the Teletubby house’ due to its resemblance to the home of the children’s television charactersGordon’s final project has been dubbed ‘the Teletubby house’ due to its resemblance to the home of the children’s television characters

While he’s ready to call it a day, Gordon has one more project he’s been very excited and proud to work on: a home built into the side of a hill overlooking East Cleveland.

“We’ve been calling it ‘the Teletubby house’,” Gordon laughs. “It’s a lovely project on which to end a career. It’s about 95 per cent finished, and when it’s done, so am I.”

Gordon is accepting bids and enquires about purchasing the business. Anyone interested is asked to contact him at grhend@ntlworld.com for more information.