British heritage brand, Charles Bentley, has announced a significant consolidation of its operational sites as part of an ongoing strategy to enhance sustainability, improve inter-departmental collaboration, and streamline day-to-day working practices.

The company, a leading outdoor leisure brand with over 160 years of heritage, is centralising across two sites, enabling closer collaboration and greater operational efficiency across its long established headquarters located at Monarch Way. These activities are being carefully transitioned into Charles Bentley’s existing facilities at North Road and Jubilee Drive - both long-established sites already central to the brand’s manufacturing and distribution operations.

The consolidation focuses on making better, more sustainable use of the company’s current estate. This programme is part of a broader long-term optimisation plan that will continue to evolve over time.

Driving sustainability and better ways of working

The merge is rooted in three key strategic priorities:

• Sustainability: Reducing travel between sites, lowering energy usage, and making more efficient use of existing facilities contribute to meaningful environmental benefits.
• Improved Collaboration: Bringing teams closer together fosters stronger communication and better alignment between departments – a fundamental part of the company values as a long-standing family business
• Operational Efficiency: Streamlined processes, simplified logistics, and increased proximity across teams help support efficient processes.

James Bentley, Managing Director at Charles Bentley said: “As a family business with more than 165 years of rich heritage, we wouldn’t be where we are today without our fantastic workforce. Our team is the backbone of the business, with some colleagues celebrating truly momentous anniversaries – a testament to their dedication and commitment.

“A key part of my vision for the future is creating a more connected, collaborative and forward-looking business, and this move plays an important role in that journey. One of the major drivers behind the relocation was the opportunity to integrate teams more seamlessly and strengthen inter-department collaboration. It means our warehouse staff have more face time with our finance and marketing teams, while office-based colleagues gain a deeper appreciation of the hard work that goes into getting our exceptional products to customers.

“By bringing our people closer together, we are building a stronger foundation for long-term growth. We hope this transition further amplifies our commitment to our people, to high-quality products and to excellent customer service, while also delivering important sustainability benefits as we lead the business into its next chapter.”

While the transition is ongoing, Charles Bentley expects the integration to unlock significant long-term benefits. Early indicators point towards more efficient workflows, improved cross-team collaboration, and stronger operational cohesion.

Charles Bentley is continually working to enhance its sustainability efforts and reduce its environmental impact. Merging sites is an important step, with additional sustainable initiatives set to follow as part of its ongoing long-term plan.