A Journey Rooted in Unity
As The Una Group celebrates its 20th anniversary, we take pride in reflecting on “20 Years of The Una Group,” marking two decades of fostering business growth, community relationships, and environmental stewardship in Plymouth. Founded in 2004 by David Young with fellow directors Ian Brooking, Derek Brooking, and Ian Dennis, The Una Group began as a collaboration of like-minded individuals who quickly realised the power of unity. This philosophy, encapsulated in the Latin word “una,” meaning “all together as one,” has been the foundation upon which our success is built. The group is now jointly owned by David Young & Ian Dennis as the other founders went off to do their own projects.
Their current business philosophy is simply summarised as – have fun, make some money, and do some good!
Building a Business on Relationships
The Group was started to support a new business venture, Crumb Rubber Ltd, seeking innovative ways of dealing with end-of-life tyres by creating new industrial compounds. In setting this business up it became apparent a number of old manufacturing centres in the city were closing down and this started our journey into industrial property development at the same time. Despite many awards and the creation of a globally unique manufacturing centre, we underestimated the time it takes to get acceptance of new compounds in sectors like automotive, and regrettably, we could not make this business a success and so we closed down the manufacturing side after 10 years. The business continues to trade at a low level as we receive licence income from our patent which is now used by another manufacturer.
We also supported the relocation of Burts Chips to the city and became shareholders for several years as the business grew. They remain one of our biggest tenants at Devon Enterprise Facility and were sold out to an international group in the last year to continue their ambitious growth plans.
Our approach to business has always been community-centric. Over the past 20 years, we have dedicated ourselves to building lasting relationships within our community, providing flexible commercial property solutions, and investing in local businesses to help them flourish. David Young has had a high profile in the city, having been a director of the Chamber of Commerce for over 20 years as well as holding positions with the Arts University Plymouth, Hearts Together, the Growth Board, One Plymouth board, Common Purpose and various other organisations. He was also instrumental in developing the city volunteering strategy that helped place hundreds of volunteers in the Covid Vaccination centres through Our Plymouth, and he now leads the development of a new tech business to help place volunteers nationally as well as measuring the social impact of such volunteers through Engaged Communities.
So we are not just property people…….!
However, with five strategically located business parks in Plymouth, we offer a wide range of business premises, including offices, warehouses, and industrial units. These spaces cater to the diverse needs of our clients, from start-ups seeking small offices to large manufacturing companies in need of extensive industrial space.
Our properties, such as the Airport Business Centre, Broadley Park Road, Devon Enterprise Facility, Devonshire Meadows, and Eaton Business Park, offer more than just physical space. They are designed to be flexible, versatile, and conducive to the growth of our tenants’ businesses. This flexibility has been a cornerstone of our success, allowing us to meet the evolving needs of the Plymouth business community.
A Commitment to Innovation and Investment
Beyond property management, The Una Group has always been passionate about backing visionary entrepreneurs and innovative business ideas. Our investment portfolio is a testament to our belief in the power of innovation to drive economic growth. We were early investors in Stem Networks and Back-2-Business, both of which have gone on to achieve national success after being acquired by ITEC Connect, now part of Xerox UK. David Young played a pivotal role in these successes, serving as a director and shareholder until Xerox’s recent acquisition.
Our commitment to sustainable innovation is evident in our involvement with CoGen UK Ltd, one of the leading developers of gasification projects in the UK. This company, led by Ian Brooking, uses advanced technology to convert residual waste into renewable energy, addressing critical waste management issues while contributing to the UK’s renewable energy goals.
We also continue to support groundbreaking start-ups like Imployable, a career management tool, and Real Green Concrete, which is pioneering environmentally-friendly concrete solutions. These investments reflect our commitment to fostering sustainable business practices and supporting the growth of companies that make a positive impact on society.
Past Achievements and Ongoing Projects
Over the years, The Una Group has been involved in several innovative projects that have had a lasting impact on various industries. Our Crumb Rubber business, for example, created a unique waste rubber processing plant that produced ultra-fine rubber powder. This recycled material was then used to invent Dynaslate, a novel roofing slate, through Dynaslate Ltd. We’ve also contributed to new materials development through, earning ongoing income from the intellectual property created.
Our involvement with Burts Chips as shareholders is another example of our commitment to supporting local businesses. Burts Chips remains one of our biggest tenants and a testament to the long-term relationships we strive to build with our partners.
Looking Forward: The Next 20 Years
As we celebrate this significant milestone, we look forward to continuing our journey of growth, innovation, and community engagement. The past 20 years have been marked by significant achievements, but we believe the best is yet to come. Our commitment to flexibility, sustainability, and supporting the ambitions of our clients remains at the core of our business philosophy.
We are deeply grateful to our clients, tenants, partners, and the Plymouth community for their trust and support over the past two decades. Together, we have built more than just a business; we have created a legacy of success, unity, and positive impact. Here’s to the next 20 years of thriving together!
A Legacy of Togetherness
The Una Group’s 20-year journey is a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and community. As we look to the future, we remain committed to our founding philosophy of working “all together as one.” Whether through providing flexible commercial property solutions, investing in groundbreaking businesses, or supporting sustainable initiatives, we are dedicated to making a lasting impact in Plymouth and beyond.
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible team that drives our success. Your hard work, dedication, and commitment are truly appreciated, and we couldn’t achieve our goals without each and every one of you.
- David Pearce – Finance Director
- Sam Young – Director
- Charlotte Philp – Finance Department Manager
- Colin Middleton – Financial / Legal Administrator
- Sue Young – Payroll Administrator
- Chris Foster – Warehouse Manager / Health & Safety Officer
- Fiona Bradford – Facilities & Tenant Liaison Manager
- Ethan Redgrave – Warehouse & Maintenance Operative
- Mark England – Warehouse & Maintenance Operative
- Bruna Lopes – Graphic Designer & SEO Manager
- Jenny Tapscott – Receptionist
- Rachel Bowman – Receptionist
- Peggy – Barketing Manager (our beloved Vizsla dog)
Thank you, team, for everything you do!
Thank you for being a part of our journey. We look forward to continuing to work with you, and together, we will achieve even greater success in the years to come.
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