Rachel Reeves, MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer

Cosy was the proud host to the Rt Hon. Rachel Reeves, MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer last week, as the Government launched the UK Trade strategy at Cosy HQ!

During her morning-long visit, Ms Reeves was given a tour of Cosy’s premises, located on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border near Tutbury, for a behind-the-scenes look at its operations.

The visit included a meet-and-greet with staff, including the firm’s managing director David Hook and co-founder Amanda Ellse, as well as a tour of the warehouse, an introduction to Cosy’s product design capabilities, and demonstrations of its use of technology and AI.

She also enjoyed tea with employees, including apprentices and former prisoners employed through the Jobs on Release scheme, and was presented with her very own pot of Chancellor’s Honey, harvested from the company’s own beehives.

Founded in Derby in 2011, Cosy now employs 110 people and sells more than 6,000 products, ranging from wooden toys to eco-friendly furniture. It exports to 45 countries and has seen the value of its overseas business rise to £3.2 million this year.

This international success earned Cosy a King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade in 2024, adding to its Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development, which it received in 2022.

During her tour, Ms Reeves praised the company’s success and operations, calling it a shining example of the kind of best practice all medium-sized enterprises should aim to emulate.

Peter Ellse said: “We’re all feeling over the moon following the Chancellor’s visit. It’s an honour to be chosen as the venue for the launch of the Chancellor’s Trade Strategy, and a real thrill to have her tour our premises and meet our amazing staff.

“We’ve worked extremely hard over the past 15 years to get to this stage, so it’s wonderful to see something we’re part of every day held up as a good example when it comes to employment, exports and embracing new technology.

“Medium-sized businesses like ours are vitally important to the economy and to the trade strategy. We’re the ones generating growth and creating jobs, investing in technology and driving exports forward.

“There’s no doubt that businesses need support — and Cosy is an example of what more companies like ours could achieve if they received it.”

Watch the highlights from Rachel Reeves' visit to Cosy HQ in a short video here.