It’s time to get Your Yurt on!

We’re back and with 2020 firmly behind us, the team at Yurts for Life HQ have made a pact to catapult into 2021 with an abundance of positivity! We have also decided that we will be in touch with our clients, suppliers and amazing fans much more often this year, after mainly battening down the hatches for most of 2020!

We have been reading a lot of articles and industry opinion about holiday trends for 2021, and it appears that many UK holidaymakers will be staying put and looking for a staycation in good old Blighty! That is great news for our industry, and we will be sharing lots of great client stories over the next few months over on our social channels (details are at the bottom of our post). 

For our first post, we felt a ‘reintroduction’ to the people behind Yurts for Life was a great place to start.  There is so much to share about the company and our phenomenal team, which you may or may not know, so here goes. 

Head Honcho – Sacha Macey

Sacha Macey

Yurts for Life literally came to life once Sacha took the helm. At the point of closing down, Sacha took over in 2014 with just five employees, saving those jobs. From a standing start in 2014, the company now employs 14 full-time, 4 regular part-time team members and a team of seasonal staff who manage the hire business. 

So, who is this extraordinary entrepreneur? Well, Sacha has enjoyed an eclectic career in different sectors, which has equipped her perfectly for the challenge she embraced in 2014. Prior to her civilian career, which we will cover shortly, Sacha served as an Officer in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers for 4 years after completing a year at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. We think that may have come as a bit of a surprise and you will want to know more? 

The experience Sacha gained during her military career has enabled her to adapt both strategically and tactically into different roles and sectors over the years. These range from hospitality to investment banking, from airport operations to polar exploration, from property development to recruitment and HR services.

Sacha’s vision for Yurts for Life is huge, so we say watch this space! 

When not growing her business, Sacha enjoys the wonderful surroundings that Devon and Cornwall have to offer. Active and sporty with tennis being a firm favourite.  And if you have a dog to walk, Sacha will happily oblige! She can be regularly found borrowing her friends’ furry friends and is waiting for the right time to welcome a pooch into the Yurts for Life family. 

Where is Yurts for Life 2021?

‘The difference between success and failure is a great team’ (Unknown). Since we were last in touch, the business has grown and evolved, which has resulted in 3 teams working closely together every day. We thought that we would share an insight into how operations work and who’s who in our Dream Team.

Yurts for Life HQ

  • Cath is our sales manager and will be the first point of call for most of our clients, helping them realise their Yurt dreams and specialising in bespoke designs. 
  • Tom is our in-house product designer and CAD guru! Tom graduated from Plymouth University with a 1st class degree last summer and joined the team in September 2020. 
  • Mark heads up our hire business logistics and also assists the wood and canvas teams with installations and product development.
  • Sacha is covering operations until we welcome a new member of staff due to join in the Spring.  Sacha also leads on finance, HR, marketing and strategy. Always keen to keep her skills fresh, Sacha manages any client maintenance jobs, Yurt re-covers and refurbishments.

Wood workshop (where the magic happens)

Bespoke Door and Window design

18ft Ger at Freshwinds Camping, UK – Bespoke Window and Door Designs

Here our experts make the yurt frames, doors, framed windows, floors, porches and curved furniture interiors and mezzanine adaptations.

  • Dan is our wood workshop manager, keeping everyone on track to deliver our Yurts on time, to quality, for our clients.
  • Graham remains the longest serving member of the wood workshop team. As well as having a huge input on new product design and testing, Graham keeps all the machines on the road and is our chief problem solver!
  • Luke is coming to the end of his apprenticeship this month where 2 years of hard work will culminate in designing and making our latest new product to add to the range, the opening window.  His skills and confidence have come on 10-fold and we are very proud of what he has achieved and how far he has come along. 
  • Merlin has been part of the team on and off through school work experience and holiday work, since Easter 2019. Since finishing school, he started his apprenticeship with us in October 2020 and is a valued member of the team.
  • Tim is our Yurt frame expert (trellis walls, roof ribs and wheels) and is passing his knowledge on to Merlin, before he embarks on door and window carpentry this year.
  • Rob joined the team in September last year to bolster the joinery side of the business. He is also training us in finishing, a skill he has perfected from previous roles for high-end clients such as Rolex and Princess Yachts.

 

 

 

Canvas Workshop (where more magic happens)  

Canvas Covered

Yurt Canvas Cover

The Canvas Workshop is where we make the canvas covers, porch covers, groundsheets and extra options such as PVC and mosquito net windows, canvas doors, vents and chimney flue collar installations.  Each cover is test-fitted before the yurt leaves the workshop, so we know it has been checked in terms of quality for our clients. Let’s introduce you to the team:

  • Medjit is our canvas workshop manager who juggles the ever-growing list of canvas work that comes through the door. 
  • Pam loves sewing, like really loves sewing. Pair this with her love of camping and the outdoors and we have the perfect Yurt canvas cover maker on our team!
  • Monika with a diploma in dressmaking and an eye for perfection, Monika is the perfect person to make our dreamy canvas covers for our Yurts! 

 

 

 

Yurt Hire and Installations

  • Maz is a Cornish born guy who loves Yurts! As part of the hire and installation team, Maz brings his great personality to every build!
  • Andy the Yorkshireman is always there to lend a helping hand when it comes to Yurts.  A reliable and relaxed member of the team keeping everyone together especially when traffic or bad weather hits a job.
  • Keith is one of our most experienced Yurtologists. A lynch-pin of our hire team, he helps with installing Yurts and problem-solving.
  • The Seasonaires the Summer seasonal staff support us year after year, with our stalwarts who keep up standards, coupled with our student team who dive in between semesters.

 

Yurt Quality, on Time!

Yurt with Double, porthole door with a canopy porch.

18ft Yurt at Canvas Hove, Norway – Yurt Quality, On Time!

Each of our Yurts is made by hand, with a passion and quality that keeps our clients happy.  Locally sourced products such as the Ash hardwood are used to make our Yurts and we source many local products whenever we can.  Production methods used are those that limit the harmful impact on the environment and we will always look for ways to improve further. 

We love the outdoors and we love our Yurts. There is so much to gain from the fresh air and natural environment, but we say, why not have a little luxury on the way? We hope that you have enjoyed reading about Yurts for Life in 2021! We have enjoyed sharing some team news and we feel so inspired for our next post, please stay tuned next month to find out!

Thank you for reading our first post of 2021, and having learned a little more about us, why not get in touch and chat with our team about creating your own little piece of Yurt heaven? Or if you already have one of our Yurts, we would love to share any pictures you have and how you are enjoying Yurt life.

Email – hello@yurtsforlife.com

Phone – 01803 762370

 

Join Yurts for Life at The Game Fair

Yurts for Life will be at The Game Fair in July – Will you be there?

Our Yurts will be going up in the grounds at Hatfield House. Why not come and see us and experience Britain’s biggest game and countryside festival – a fun day out for all the family! 26th – 28th July.

We’re passionate about getting people outdoors and making the most of their surroundings, and The Game Fair is the annual gathering for people passionate about countryside pursuits and the Great British Countryside in all its glory.

Contact us hello@yurtsforlife.com to reserve a 1-2-1 consultation at the Festival.

Tickets are available to buy here: https://thegamefair.seetickets.com/tour/the-game-fair

#festival #gameandcountrysidefestival #hatfieldhouse #Ruralbusiness #gunmakers #foodanddrink #hospitality 

#theatres#trybeforeyoubuy #falconry #fishing #gamekeeping #arenashows#demos #horseandhounds 

#showgardens #land #estates #conservation #weekendcamping #glamping #countryside #experience #yurtsforlife #hertfordshire

VOTE FOR US!

Could we be the Peoples Champion? 

We’re delighted to announce that Yurts for Life has been shortlisted for the Export Business of the Year in the Startups Awards 2018!

Voting for the 2018 People’s Champion is now open. Who wins? YOU decide!

Why we made the cut:

“In essence, Yurts for Life is about getting close to nature and promoting sustainableaffordablelow impact lifestyles: #yurtology

It’s clear from the start-up’s early growth that consumers are responding to this philosophy, and with a ever-expanding international presence, this message is being spread around the world.”

We’re getting more and more reach internationally, and by being shortlisted for the Export Business of the Year the recognition of that effort is ace!

Voting closes at midnight on Sunday 11 November and the People’s Champion 2018 – the business with the most votes – will be revealed at the Startups Awards ceremony on November 21.

Wish us luck, and GET VOTING! and please share!!!

When Sacha met Teresa – Yurts for Life at Number 10

As an Ambassador for the The Rural Business Awards, our illustrious leader Sacha Macey was recently invited by the Rural Business Group to attend a Roundtable at Number 10 Downing Street.

The Roundtable was hosted by Niamh Mulholland (Business Engagement Manager at the Prime Minister’s Office), and focussed on the challenges that rural businesses are currently facing, whilst also exploring thoughts and ideas about how we can address these challenges in order to have a real, sustainable impact on our rural communities – enabling us to not only survive but to thrive.

Anna Price Co-Founder of the Awards and Rural Business Group said:

“Our view is that successful rural communities are underpinned by successful rural enterprise in all its forms. We are delighted to be able to share some of our success with other hard working rural businesses and give them the opportunity to be heard at the heart of Westminster.”

We look forward to continued involvement with the group to help raise the profile of the rural economy and how it contributes to the UK’s prosperity.

As the discussion around the table proved, there is much to be done to remove roadblocks to success for people operating businesses of all sizes to level the playing field.

Yurts for Life chosen for Goldman Sachs Small Businesses programme

Sacha Macey
Sacha Macey

Yurts for Life chosen for Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme

The Yurts for Life team is thrilled that our own Sacha Macey (pictured left) has been chosen for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme, after a rigorous selection process. The programme runs from September to December 2018, and provides high-quality, practical education and business support to leaders of high-growth small businesses across the UK. Such businesses play a vital role in creating jobs and driving economic growth in the UK through innovation and market expansion.

After extensive research, Goldman Sachs launched the 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme in 2010 specifically to address the support gap for small enterprises, helping them unlock the economic and job creation potential of their businesses. The programme is designed by leading experts and is run in partnership with leading UK universities and business schools, including the Said Business School at Oxford University.

The programme brings together leaders of small businesses from across industry sectors and creates unique networking and peer learning opportunities. The core of the programme is a high quality, practically-focused business and management education, delivered through a blend of online and in-person residential sessions. The curriculum has been designed specifically for this programme by world-class international and national experts in entrepreneurial learning.

Participants of the programme benefit from:

• Specialist workshops
• One-on-one business advising
• Business coaching
• Access to professional experts
• Networking opportunities and
• A network of 10,000 Small Business graduates

The programme is funded by Goldman Sachs and the Goldman Sachs Foundation. Programme results show that 10,000 Small Businesses graduates consistently grow their revenues, and create jobs at rates that outperform the broader economy.

10ft Sauna Yurt

The 10ft sauna yurt we provided to Canvas Hotel, Telemark was an upgraded yurt, designed to withstand the artic weather as well as the challenges of the sauna heat.

Our 10ft Yurt can be a great addition to your gathering of Yurts*: they can be used for treatment rooms, photo booths, cloakrooms, reading rooms etc. Speak to a member of the the team if you are interested.

*Please note: the 10ft yurt is only available to purchase as an add-on to other Yurt orders, and is not sold separately.

The big secret is out! Yurts for Life at SuperShe Island

From New York to New Delhi to London and even Latvia…

The grand opening of SuperShe Island has gone absolutely viral. From the prestigious pages of Vogue’s latest issue, to the witty and wise at Cosmopolitan Magazine, UK’ Daily Mail, Elle, Shape, Pulse, Huffington, and so much more.

We’re proud to be supplying SuperShe with a grand 24ft Yurt for Yoga, as well as 2 x 10ft Yurts for soothing, relaxing massages and treatments. 

The SuperShe community has become a notso-secret society of women who share a thirst for living an exceptional life and a hunger for healthy living.

SuperShe’s have gathered together in paradises all over the world to retreat, relax, and rejuvenate from the turquoise beaches of Hawaii, Turks & Caicos, and British Virgin Islands to exclusive events in New York City, Paris, and Tokyo. When these women get together, they are simply unstoppable.

For more information, head on over to Supersheisland.com

Boutique Camping at Glas-Denbury Festival 2018!

Glas-Denbury 2018
Glas-Denbury 2018

We’re proud to be returning as one of Glas-Denbury’s boutique camping providers for their 2018 festival in July!

Our luxurious range Yurts offers you a boutique camping experience with home comforts, including a proper mattress that will guarantee you a good nights sleep after having partied the day (and night) away, as well as the security of a lockable front door and on-site check in.

18ft Celestial Yurt, Luxury King Double
18ft Celestial Yurt, Luxury King Double

Boutique Camping Options

18ft Celestial Yurt

Our 18ft Celestial Yurt is ideal for a couple sharing, groups or a family of 4, or up to 6 adults. Can be rented fully furnished for 4 adults for an early bird price of £800. Includes super soft comfy mattresses and bed frames (no air beds!), all linen, duvets, rugs, blankets & bedside tables, which means they’re ready for you to simply turn the key and drop your rucksack upon arrival. Also has a lockable front door, so no worries about security. No extra charges for kids either, just bring roll mats & sleeping bags! Rent the 18ft unfurnished for an early bird price of £600, sleeping up to 6 adults on roll mats.

24ft Dorm Yurt - New for 2018!
24ft Dorm Yurt - New for 2018!

New for 2018! 24ft Dorm Yurt

We have a 24ft Dorm Yurt that’s suitable for bigger groups, or two families sharing. Our Dorm Yurt can accommodate 8-10 people sharing, using your own roll mats and sleeping bags. We bring the Yurt, you bring the fun! Cost for unfurnished, early bird price of £1,095. Basic interiors can be provided for £40: rugs, blankets and bedside tables. Could also be rented fully furnished for 6 people for an early bird price of £1,375. The Dorm has 2 x lockable double doors, so no worries about security! Call us on 01803 762 370 for more details.

10ft Yurt Glamping
10ft Yurt Glamping

10ft Private Yurt

Our 10ft Private Yurt is ideal for those looking for a little hideaway. At 3m wide, the 10ft comes unfurnished and can sleep two people on roll mats. Comes with a carpet & zip canvas door for an early bird price of £300. We can provide a basic interior package for an additional £10 per person: rugs, blankets and bedside tables. Upgrade to fully furnished for 2 people for an early bird bargain price of £400.

YFL receives funding from The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development

Funding from the South Devon Coastal Local Action Group (LAG), who run a rural grant funding programme focused on the economy, has aided the expansion of South Hams business, Yurts for Life.

Yurts for Life (YFL), a yurt manufacturing business, has been awarded a grant by the rural business funding programme to construct 40ft yurts.

The business manufactures yurts for clients ranging from glampsite owners to schools, charities, community spaces and commercial event spaces.

YFL also rents out small yurts to festivals and weddings for accommodation mainly in the South West but also repairs and maintains yurts from across the UK.

The funding is for the manufacture of a new 40ft Yurt frame, doors and windows, in the workshop at Barkingdon, near Totnes, along with the purchase of tools for yurt manufacture, storage and marketing. YFL already have an existing portfolio of 20ft and 30ft Yurts for sale or hire, so this has increased their portfolio, improved business productivity and is creating three new jobs.

Owner of Yurts for Life, Sacha Macey, said: “This is fantastic news. We’ve been wanting to expand our business for a while now and the grant from the LAG has enabled us to do just this.

“There is not a lot of help for local, rural businesses in the area so the LAG is a real lifeline for South Hams businesses who are looking to start up or expand.

“It was clear from researching the market, that a larger yurt was needed and we have already successfully sold and installed a 40ft Yurt at Nicholsons Nursery, North Aston, in Oxfordshire. Here’s to a prosperous 2017!”

South Devon Coastal LAG chairman John Yeoman added: “If you run a small business or you are thinking of setting up or expanding a rural business, the South Devon Coastal Local Action Group provides you with an opportunity to help you fill your potential.

“You can apply for a grant to grow and develop your business and employ more people. Take a look at our website www.drcompany.co.uk/sdclag complete and submit a simple project ideas form so we can check you are eligible and then we can get going on your application.”

“The South Devon Coastal Local Action Group (LAG) successfully bid to the Rural Development Programme for England 2014-2020 to run a rural grant funding programme focused on the economy to create jobs and help the rural economy to grow.

The delivery of the programme is undertaken by the Diverse Regeneration Company CIC, and South Hams District Council act as the Accountable Body for the programme.