As part of our C2S Best Practice series, we were delighted to visit Commercial at their Cheltenham headquarters—bringing together members for an insightful and inspiring morning of shared learning.
From the moment we arrived, it was clear this was more than just a business visit. It was an opportunity to step back, hear a remarkable growth story firsthand, and see best practice brought to life.
A Story of Vision, Passion and Growth
Founder Arthur Hindmarch shared the Commercial journey with openness and authenticity. Established in 1991, the business has grown into a £100m+ organisation, supporting clients across multiple sectors—from global corporates to SMEs and education.
What stood out wasn’t just the scale of growth, but the clarity of vision and consistency of purpose that has underpinned it. Arthur’s passion for what they do was evident throughout, alongside a strong belief in evolving the business in line with customer needs.
An Integrated Approach to Supporting Businesses
A key theme from the session was how Commercial has developed a truly integrated model—bringing together a wide range of services to support organisations in a joined-up way.
Their ambition to continue building and strengthening each of their divisions was clear, with a focus on delivering value, efficiency and innovation across every touchpoint.
Commercial’s areas of expertise include:
- Workplace Supplies Management
- Artifical Intelligence
- Business Interiors
- Cloud & Datacentre
- Corporate Print
- Cyber Security
- Digital Workspace
- ESG Consultancy
- Managed Services
- Modern Workplace
- Next Gen Environments
- PPE & Workwear Facilities
This breadth of offering enables Commercial to support organisations holistically—something that increasingly matters as businesses look for joined-up solutions rather than siloed services.
Sustainability at the Core
Another standout element of the visit was Commercial’s commitment to sustainability. This is not treated as a bolt-on, but something that underpins every part of the business.
Their achievement of EcoVadis Platinum status is a significant milestone and places them among the top-performing organisations globally in terms of sustainability and corporate responsibility. It reflects a long-term commitment to doing business in the right way—something that resonated strongly with the group.
Bringing Best Practice to Life
The visit also included a tour of Commercial’s newly transformed headquarters—a £1.5m investment that showcases their thinking in practice.
The space has been designed to support collaboration, wellbeing and productivity, creating an environment where people genuinely want to work. Seeing this brought to life in their own workspace added a powerful dimension to the morning.
Making an Impact Beyond the Business
We also heard more about the work of the Commercial Foundation, which plays a vital role in supporting young people who may have faced barriers to employment or fallen out of the traditional education system.
What really stood out is the practical, hands-on nature of the support they provide. This isn’t just about advice—it’s about equipping young people with the tools, confidence and real-world experience they need to take their next steps.
Through initiatives such as workplace exposure, mentoring and access to essential resources, the Foundation helps bridge the gap between education and employment. Whether it’s providing practical work tools, creating opportunities to experience different working environments, or building confidence through real interactions with businesses, the focus is on enabling young people to see what’s possible—and to feel ready to take that step.
It’s a powerful reminder that businesses can play a meaningful role in shaping futures, not just through what they deliver commercially, but through the opportunities they create for others. Find our more about the Commecial Foundation: https://commercialfoundation.co.uk/
The Power of Shared Learning
At C2S, creating space for leaders and teams to step back, reflect and learn from others is a core part of what we do.
This visit was a perfect example of that in action—bringing together a group of businesses to hear openly from another organisation, ask questions and take away insights that can be applied in their own contexts.
A huge thank you to Arthur Hindmarch, Patrick Stennett, Ryann Trinder and Adam Miller and the wider Commercial team for such a warm welcome, for sharing so openly, and for hosting such an engaging and valuable session.
