British luxury brand, Savernake Knives, founded in 2015 by Directors Laurie Timpson and Philip Shaw, has been selected as one of the 2019 Brands of Tomorrow by Walpole.
Celebrating and honouring exceptional brands and individuals across the luxury sector, Savernake Knives sits alongside 11 others that have captured Walpole’s attention. Timpson and Shaw, will now embark upon a year-long programme of workshops and mentoring, aiding the brands develop, business skills and helping Savernake Knives to accelerate its business growth.
Timpson and Shaw have doubled the size of the business over the past year, but the pair have many more identified ambitions and as such Savernake Knives is delighted to be partnered with some of the UK’s most experienced luxury leaders who will provide 12 months of personal mentoring.
Following a recent round of private fundraising, and with new investors on board, the pair has been able to move and expand the Savernake Knives operation to a 5000sqft old sawmill located in the parish of Savernake. With a new manufacturing team in place, and increased capacity, Savernake Knives’ manufacturing capability is only improving.
Laurie Timpson said: “We are enormously grateful and proud to be selected as one of Walpole’s Brands of Tomorrow for 2019. We have developed our company, sales and products organically over the past three years and have reached the stage where we will benefit massively from the mentoring, connections and the insight that the Brands of Tomorrow programme is able to offer us.
As a small team based in a converted sawmill on the edge of the Savernake Forest in Wiltshire, we are hugely aware and appreciative of England’s tradition of making some of the most sought-after objects in the world. From Chippendale to Holland & Holland, Bentley to the knife-makers in Sheffield of old, we continually take inspiration from dedicated and innovative makers and creators.
There are many definitions of luxury, but our preferred is from the Oxford English Dictionary: “a pleasure obtained only rarely”. Every single one of our knives is made from scratch for each of our customers, to their exact specifications, and delivered in a matter of days. We’re not aware of anyone else that can offer this level of intimate customisation, and hope that through a stimulating and challenging 2019 we can learn to stay ahead of the pack, maintain our dedication towards perpetual improvement and start to look beyond the borders to the global market.”
Helen Brocklebank, Chief Executive, Walpole says: “Originating in the heart of the North Wessex Downs, every Savernake knife is made to order and finished by hand, so whether Laurie and Philip are creating a perfectly balanced knife for one of Britain’s top chefs or a special gift for a home cook, the quality and craftsmanship of their products speak for themselves. I am delighted to welcome Savernake Knives to Brands of Tomorrow 2019, the programme exists so that Walpole and its members can support the very best emerging luxury brands and create a pipeline of growth for the sector and I look forward to seeing Laurie and Philip develop their business even further in the next 12 months.”
Brands of Tomorrow is Walpole’s flagship development programme and supports the success and dynamic growth of the luxury industry through the transference of skills, experience and know-how to ensure continued creative development. It creates mutually beneficial relationships between established and up-and-coming luxury brands and individuals, which not only allows the British luxury sector – and the wider business economy – to thrive, but to flourish.