Hopkins / Labetts Case Study
Hopkins / Labetts Case Study
Saving a Landmark Building from a £2 Million Blind Replacement
Our partner: Labetts. www.labetts.co.uk
The end client: Facilities Team, major listed government building (via Labetts)
Sector: Government / Commercial / Heritage
Solution by: Hopkins Blind & Shutter Fittings
The Challenge
A large, iconic, and listed government building in central London is home to over 3,000 roller and venetian blinds, many installed more than 15 years ago. With age and wear, a growing number were beginning to fail.
The problem? The original blind system was highly bespoke and now completely obsolete. The manufacturer no longer exists, and no standard parts could be sourced.
The facilities team managing the building had already approached other suppliers – none could offer a workable fix. The only remaining option seemed to be a full system replacement, at a cost of around £2 million.
“We’re the third company to try and solve this,” says Richard Brokenshire, Operations Manager at Labetts. “Thanks to our partnership with Hopkins Fittings, we now have a working solution. The client is delighted.”
The Approach
Labetts – specialists in solar shading and commercial blind installation — were brought in to find a better answer. Richard Brokenshire quickly recognised this wasn’t a standard supply job; it was a technical challenge demanding innovation, precision, and partnership.
That’s when he called Hopkins.
“Alex rolls his sleeves up and tackles the blinds challenges that others won’t.
There’s no one else we could have gone to for this but Hopkins.”
Working closely with Richard and his team, Hopkins reverse-engineered a critical component in the original system, redesigning and remanufacturing a bespoke part that no longer existed.
Using 3D modelling, rapid prototyping, and deep product expertise, Hopkins developed a modern replacement that could be installed seamlessly into the legacy system, removing the need to replace the blinds themselves.
“Hopkins is right on the pulse – great with obscure, unavailable parts.
We trusted them to deliver what no one else could.”
The Result
After multiple design iterations and technical problem-solving, the new part was manufactured and tested. Installation is scheduled to begin in July 2025, enabling a phased, cost-effective replacement of only the failing components, not the entire blind system.
“Without our partnership with Hopkins, the client would have been looking at a full £2 million replacement.
They made the impossible, possible.”
Why it worked:
✅ Bespoke engineering – a new part designed specifically for an obsolete system
✅ Sustainable – no wasteful full replacement
✅ Cost-saving – avoided a £2 million refit
✅ Seamless – worked within the existing installation
✅ Trust – delivered where others had failed
Why Hopkins?
• Not off the shelf: Custom-engineered blinds and shutter components for non-standard projects
• Innovative and agile: 3D design, specialist manufacturing, and practical problem-solving
• UK design & manufacture: Fast, high-quality production, no overseas delays
• True partnership: Collaborative from the first call to the final part
"This was a true collaboration. Hopkins helped us solve a problem that other companies couldn’t touch.”