A DESIGN and furniture firm is aiming for a turnover of £1 million — just five years after it was launched.

Care Design and Furniture, which refits schools, has announced expansion plans to also refurbish commercial shop premises in Bolton.

Founded by former Warburtons joiner Tony Goodwin, it has expanded to work all over the country.

Mr Goodwin, of Ashcombe Drive, Breightmet, now works with business partner Chris Mungall, who bought the southern part of the firm three years ago and runs its southern office.

Mr Goodwin is focusing on the northern education market and looking at new opportunities.

He grew up in Tonge Moor and attended Thornleigh Salesian College, then Bolton College, before serving an apprenticeship as a joiner with Warburtons and becoming an architectural technologist designing new shops.

Mr Goodwin moved on to a Manchester firm, designing and installing educational furniture for laboratories and technology rooms.

Then he studied for a marketing degree at the University of Bolton.

Mr Goodwin said: “We have been in business for five years and trade has grown year after year, although the change of government caused a lull through uncertainty over funding for school projects and local authorities.

“We have two management staff in our Bolton office, covering the northern area, and another two in our Oxford office, covering the south. At peak periods, we could have between 20 and 25 tradesmen working on our projects.

“Our plan at present is to aim for £1 million turnover and this year is looking promising. Because we are specialists in design and refurbishment of schools, there are peaks and troughs in our business.

“The summer holidays are particularly busy and we are continually working 12-hour days. Termtime is quieter but we still have work on new projects, designing and providing specialist educational furniture.

“We also undertake shopfitting, offices and other commercial projects outside the summer.

“We have recently bought and refurbished the large Breightmet Electrics shop on Bury Road, splitting it into two ground floor shops and first floor offices.”