A DECADE of success has been celebrated by staff at borough-based W Plus Interiors.

Last Wednesday was a significant date, 12/12/12, and it also saw a party to celebrate the 10th birthday and the end of a successful year for the firm, which is expecting to report a turnover of more than £2.8million.

And judging from those attending the lunchtime party, the future is looking very positive for the business set up by Steve Moody and his wife Chalene back in 2002.

He said: “Our most successful year was in 2008 when we did £2.5m. But since then we had a tough time in the recession, especially in 2009 and 2010.

“This year has been our second most successful, so it’s been quite challenging and an interesting process.”

Since 2007, the business, which specialises in office layout interior design and office floor plan design, has been based at The Courtyard, Minchens Court, in Minchens Lane, Bramley, where its offices act as an impressive showroom.

“Now we plan to grow the business to a turnover of up to £25m over the next five years,” said Steve. “We’ve brought in a new team, with a new sales director and we’re also investing in some young new starters.

“Historically, the company was made up of people with an average age of about 40 to 45, whereas we have taken that down substantially by investing in some 19 and 20-year-olds.”

This year, the firm has taken on four new staff members and currently employs 12 people.

“A lot of youngsters are taking any job just to get work.

“What we are trying to do is to give them a platform to actually train them up to be the future of the company.”

W Plus Interiors boasts some impressive local names on its client list.

“Shire has been our biggest-ever client,” explained Steve. “Our client base is like a who’s who of Basingstoke, with companies like Sandon, Tridonic, The Purple Agency and Lilly on it.”

Also in the W Plus stable is a business called ModeFour, which specialises in providing office furniture, audio visual equipment and carpeting.