Small Business of the Year entrant – Landpod
Eco glamping pods made by a family-run Staffordshire business made their TV debut recently in Ben Fogle’s New Lives in The Wild and will feature in a Channel 4 comedy entertainment programme later this year.
Landpod, which handmakes everything in its workshop in Barlaston, has exported pods worldwide including to Dyreparken, the number one tourist attraction in Norway.
The business was established in 2014, has five staff and had a £400,000 turnover for 2022. It is on track to increase its turnover by 45% in 2023.
Director and founder Jake Watson said: “We’re a small family-run business that has achieved significant success and progression while remaining committed to our core values.
“We have innovative products, we’re committed to sustainable business practices and we’re dedicated to supporting local businesses and charitable organisations.”
The company specialises in producing eco-friendly, off-grid glamping pods that offer comfortable and sustainable living spaces, allowing people to reconnect with nature.
The Landpod structure is made from sustainable materials and designed to be powered totally off grid by 30KW solar panels.
Built on adjustable legs, the base of each pod helps protect the ground it’s built on, without the need for intrusive foundations or costly infrastructure, saving money on the initial setup for its customers and minimising impact on the surrounding nature.
Landpod was approached by Cam Cameron, the leader of the Rockall Expedition 2023 to ask if they could design and build a bespoke Landpod for the expedition team to sleep in during their attempt to break the world record for the number of days spent on Rockall Island – 200 miles off the coast of Scotland and the nearest civilisation. Landpod agreed to donate this unique one-off pod as the expedition is raising money for The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.
Landpod has entered the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.