Greencare and Greentyre

When the opportunity arose to acquire the business we jumped at the chance. Almost all other finance options were impersonal and faceless, but dealing with FW Capital was really refreshing. Without their support the dream was unlikely to become a reality for us.

Rob Ferguson, Director, Greencare and Greentyre

A management buy-out led by long-standing employees Katie Fryer and Rob Ferguson brought Teesside firm Flat Free Tyres Ltd, trading as Greencare Mobility and Greentyre, back into local ownership. Rob has worked for the firm for 27 years and Katie 10 years.

Greencare is a leading provider of configurable, custom-built wheelchairs and specialist seating solutions for customers in the UK and overseas. The business is the UK’s last mainstream wheelchair manufacturer and supplies the NHS as well as private customers, who can visit its Middlesbrough factory to see their wheelchair being made to their exact specifications.

Greentyre is a leading provider of microcellular polyurethane puncture-proof tyres for the mobility market, as well as the bicycle and industrial sectors worldwide. The business has been operating for more than 30 years, with all products manufactured at its Middlesbrough factory.

The MBO was funded by a six-figure investment through the Teesside Flexible Investment Fund, which is managed alongside backing from the Teesside Pension Fund and provided a flexible alternative to traditional lending, unlocking vital resources to support business growth.