{{Short description|British home improvement company}} {{Other uses|Everest (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox company | name = Everest 2020 Limited | logo = Everest_company_logo.png | type = Private | industry = Home improvement | founded = June 2020 | hq_location_city = Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire | hq_location_country = England | key_people = Paula Chambers (CEO) | services = double glazing, home improvement | owner = Better Capital LLP | num_employees = 1000 | website = {{url|1=https://www.everest.co.uk/}} }}
'''Everest Home Improvement''' was a British double glazing and home improvement company.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/profiles/6300749/Cleaning-up-on-windows-is-just-the-start-for-Everest-chief.html|title=Cleaning up on windows is just the start for Everest chief|date=October 11, 2009|author=James Hall|accessdate=November 14, 2014}}</ref> The company was founded in 1964 but went into administration in June 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3574277|title = EVEREST LIMITED | Appointment of Administrators | the Gazette}}</ref> A new company called Everest 2020 limited was formed in June 2020 following the administration.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.doubleglazingblogger.com/2020/06/companies-house-documents-show-new-everest-2020-company/|title = Companies House documents show new Everest 2020 company| date=2 June 2020 }}</ref> In April 2024, Everest 2000 Limited was put into administration.<ref>https://news.sky.com/story/double-glazing-giant-everest-crashes-into-administration-13122865</ref>
==History== Everest was founded by Lewis Golden in 1964.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/lewis-golden-obituary-22w79zp8p|title=Lewis Golden}}</ref> It became one of the first companies in the market of double glazing.<ref name=telegraph/> In what became a very fragmented market,<ref name="telegraph2">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/constructionandproperty/8277187/Everests-profits-climb-30pc-as-cost-cutting-pays-off.html|title=Everest's profits climb 30pc as cost-cutting pays off|date=January 24, 2011|author=James Hurley|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref> with over 3,000 companies,<ref name=telegraph/> the company grew to become the second biggest in the UK market by sales<ref name=telegraph/> and turnover<ref name=telegraph2/> with 2.5% of the market (£165m sales) by 2009,<ref name=telegraph/> later rising to 3%.<ref name=telegraph2/>
Private Equity firm Better Capital acquired the company in March 2012 for £25 million.<ref name="altassets">{{cite web|url=https://www.altassets.net/private-equity-news/by-news-type/deal-news/moultons-better-capital-buys-everest-windows-for-25m.html|title=Moulton's Better Capital buys Everest Windows for £25m|date=March 29, 2012|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref> In November 2013, the company won the Interactive Media Awards in content, design, functionality, high standards of compliance and usability.<ref name="interactivemedia">{{cite web|url=http://www.interactivemediaawards.com/winners/winners.asp|title=Interactive Media Awards|accessdate=November 24, 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120904112254/http://www.interactivemediaawards.com/winners/winners.asp|archivedate=September 4, 2012}}</ref><ref name="mba">{{cite web|url=http://www.mba.co.uk/interestingness/2013/11/06/mba-wins-best-in-class-with-everest-website-redesign/|title=MBA wins Best in Class with Everest website redesign|date=November 6, 2013|author=Nicola Keene|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref>
In 2014, Everest windows introduced triple glazing to the volume market.<ref name="dumbartonreporter">{{cite web|url=http://www.dumbartonreporter.co.uk/opinion/roundup/articles/2014/03/03/490182-triple-glazing-the-green-solution-to-scotlands-baltic-weather/|title=Triple glazing: the green solution to Scotland's Baltic Weather|author=Gary Farmer|date=March 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321111114/http://www.dumbartonreporter.co.uk/opinion/roundup/articles/2014/03/03/490182-triple-glazing-the-green-solution-to-scotlands-baltic-weather/|archive-date=March 21, 2015|url-status=dead|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Telegraph new products">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/property/everest-windows/10897946/everest-new-products-happy-customers.html|title=Everest reviews product range to focus on customers|date=June 16, 2014|author=Virginia Blackburn |accessdate=March 2, 2015}}</ref>
Everest Windows were awarded Sales Team of the Year runner up and Sales Director of the Year runner up at the British Excellence in Sales & Marketing Awards in March 2015.<ref name="Glass News">{{cite web|url=http://www.glassnews.co.uk/?p=6207|title=Everest Excels in British Excellence in Sales and Marketing Awards|date=9 March 2015 |accessdate=June 25, 2015}}</ref>
===Administration=== On 6 June 2020, Everest Limited was put into administration by its owner, Better Capital. It then created a new company called Everest 2020 and bought up the operations and order book.<ref name="guardianjun2020">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/jun/09/everest-double-glazing-rescue-deal-saves-1000-uk-jobs|title=Everest double glazing rescue deal saves 1,000 UK jobs|website=TheGuardian.com |date=June 9, 2020|accessdate=July 13, 2020}}</ref> The new company owned by the previous owners of Everest chose not honour the warranties of previous customers. The BBC ''Watchdog'' programme said "the new company was using the same or very similar branding and claiming that they have been making quality products since 1965, but despite promoting the old company’s heritage, it was not looking after all of its customers."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/s3Bs1XnDQZ1zG49JV4vZQR/watchdog-everest-lifetime-guarantees|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916090420/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/s3Bs1XnDQZ1zG49JV4vZQR/watchdog-everest-lifetime-guarantees|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 16, 2020|title = BBC One - the One Show - Watchdog – Everest lifetime guarantees}}</ref>
On 24 April 2024, Everest 2000 Limited was itself put into administration, putting 350 jobs at risk, and appointed administrators from ReSolve Advisory Limited.<ref name="northernechoapr2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/24280116.national-company-everest-appoint-administrators-resolve/|title=National company Everest appoint administrators ReSolve|website=thenorthernecho.co.uk|date=April 26, 2024|accessdate=April 26, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Morby-29Apr2024">{{cite news |last1=Morby |first1=Aaron |title=Windows giant Everest crashes into administration |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2024/04/29/windows-giant-everest-crashes-into-administration/ |access-date=29 April 2024 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=29 April 2024}}</ref>
==Products== The company manufactured doors, windows (double glazed & triple glazed) and a variety of home exterior structures.
==Organisation== The company was headquartered in Cuffley, Hertfordshire, and had manufacturing plants in Sittingbourne, Kent and Treherbert, Wales, and <ref name=telegraph/><ref name="windowsactive">{{cite web|url=https://www.windowsactive.com/everest-launches-national-sales-academy-st-albans/|title=Everest launches its first ever National Sales Academy in St Albans|date=October 15, 2014|accessdate=November 14, 2014}}</ref> employed its own product development team, design team, installation team and sales team. The company employed over 1,000 sales people in 2009, each operating as a franchisee.<ref name=telegraph/> They were not employed by Everest. they were self-employed.
During 2013, employing over 2,000 staff, the total operating profits for 2012-2013 were over £5.1 million.<ref name="insidermag">{{cite web|url=http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/central-and-east/115053-everest-climbs-back-profitability|title=Everest Climbs Back To Profitability|date=May 21, 2014|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref>
==Advertising==
===Tan Hill Inn=== Everest's slogan "Fit the best. Everest," written by advertising executive Rod Allen, was made memorable by the company's first television advert in the 1980s. Filmed in 'Britain's highest pub' the Tan Hill Inn in Tan Hill, North Yorkshire, it attempted to showcase the draught-proofing of Everest double glazing by having television personality Ted Moult dropping a feather on one side of the pubs double-glazed windows, while a gale raged outside.<ref name=telegraph/><ref name="renegadeconservatoryguy">{{cite web|url=http://renegadeconservatoryguy.co.uk/ted-moultseverest-tv-ad-the-best-ever/|title=Ted moults everest tv ad the best ever|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref> A new version of the advert featuring Craig Doyle, was produced in 2008.<ref name="theguardian">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/jun/14/features16.theguide|title=The Hard Sell|date=June 13, 2008|author=Gavin Newsham|website=TheGuardian.com |accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref> It created some controversy after local planning officials recognized that Everest had not properly authorized the improvement work done to the filming location, as is required for commercial premises.<ref name="telegraph3">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2053764/Englands-highest-pub-in-television-advert-planning-row.html|title=England's highest pub in television advert planning row|date=May 30, 2008|author=Paul Stokes|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name="dailymirror">{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/top-pubs-solar-panel-tv-310865|title=Top pub's solar panel TV advert fight|website=Daily Mirror |date=May 30, 2008|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref>
===Advertising bans=== In 2008, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned an Everest Windows television advertisement for potentially misleading consumers as to the amount of hot water generated by a solar panel.<ref name="hv">{{cite web|url=https://www.hvnplus.co.uk/3100930.article|title=Everest ad banned over solar claim|date=October 22, 2008|author=Ben Hall|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref> The advert was subsequently amended and allowed to be shown in the amended form.<ref name=hv/>
In 2011, the ASA banned an Everest advert for solar panels, following claims of misleading consumers regarding potential cost savings.<ref name="which">{{cite web|url=http://www.which.co.uk/news/2011/09/misleading-solar-panel-advert-banned-265172/|title='Misleading' solar panel advert banned|date=September 10, 2011|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name="utilityweek">{{cite web|url=http://www.utilityweek.co.uk/news/ASA-bans-misleading-solar-PV-ad/810182|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141124034840/http://www.utilityweek.co.uk/news/ASA-bans-misleading-solar-PV-ad/810182|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 24, 2014|title=ASA bans 'misleading' solar PV ad|date=September 8, 2011|author=Paul Newton|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref>
==Which? Investigations== A report in April 2010 by consumer organisation Which? claimed that of 14 companies it investigated selling double glazing on the doorstep, most were employing "cowboy" sales tactics.<ref name="scotsman">{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/solar-heat-suppliers-acting-like-cowboys-1-1366226|title=Solar heat suppliers 'acting like cowboys'|date=April 24, 2008|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name="belfast">{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/environment/major-solar-panel-firms-misleading-consumers-28535170.html|title=Major solar panel firms 'misleading consumers'|date=April 26, 2010|author=Martha Hickman|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name="telegraph4">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/renewableenergy/7628756/Solar-heating-rip-off-exposed-by-undercover-probe.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428075815/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/renewableenergy/7628756/Solar-heating-rip-off-exposed-by-undercover-probe.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 28, 2010|title=Solar heating rip-off exposed by undercover probe|date=April 25, 2010|author= Alastair Jamieson|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.everest.co.uk?stars=1 Official Everest Home Improvement website]
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Category:British banned television advertisements Category:Window manufacturers Category:Building materials companies of the United Kingdom Category:Home improvement companies of the United Kingdom Category:Manufacturing companies of England Category:Companies based in Welwyn Hatfield Category:British companies established in 1964 Category:Construction and civil engineering companies established in 1964 Category:British brands