Bradford firm Urban Planters is becoming even more of a national operator with the opening of its 11th branch.

The firm, which started in 1965, began franchising in 1996 and now has a turnover of more than £1 million. The company is the fastest-growing business in the interior landscape sector.

Urban Planters, based in Pasture Lane, Clayton, has helped set up business partners Richard Poole and Liz Cabbie.

The pair have taken on the London West franchised territory and aim to be up and running by the middle of October. Richard, 38, and Liz, 34, will operate out of Hounslow and cover much of the West End, Staines, Uxbridge, Hammersmith and Chiswick.

Both are making moves from within the interior landscape industry. Richard said: "Liz and I wanted to get off the treadmill and run a business which met the standards we believe in. We were attracted to Urban Planters' package because it gave us the integrity of a known industry name, putting us in a superior position from the first day."

Urban Planters has other branches in Bradford, London central and south, Oxfordshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Reading, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The firm is recognised as a pioneer of training in the industry and has won the Investors in People standard.

The firm is run by husband and wife team David and Ray Marrison who are pushing for better training in the landscaping industry.

The group has been involved in talks with Government Ministers on how to raise standards in the industry. The firm's workers and increasing number of franchise holders are put through extensive training including National Vocational Qualifications.

Mr Marrison, whose firm has gained the ISO 9000 standard, is currently chairman of the British Association for Landscape Industries.

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