Spenbeck is founded in 1981 by Mich and Don Stevenson, two brothers born and bred in Nottingham with a shared interest in property. Naming the company after two of their children – cousins Spencer and Becky – they used their knowledge of the city to turn their passion
into business
Spenbeck opens its first office at Eight Broadway, starting the special relationship with The Lace Market that was to endure to the present day.
The nightclub boom leads to a new leisure offering from Spenbeck. Mich and Don become landlords of Faces, Kool Kat and The Monastery
Spenbeck expands its portfolio by renovating strips of Victorian houses and regenerating suburban shopping arcades
Don is lost in a tragic accident
Mich conceives and helps establish The Lace Market Trust to protect and regenerate this historically and commercially important area of Nottingham
Mich saves the Shire Hall from likely demolition by founding The Galleries of Justice Museum and The National Centre for Citizenship and the Law (NCCL). Mich raised £3.5m in just 18 months and was founding chair for 22 years
Mich is awarded an honorary MA by Nottingham Trent University for regenerating The Lace Market
Spenbeck moves to Kings Court, a recently regenerated warehouse in The Lace Market, to make room for new tenants
Mich is awarded an OBE for 'services to the Galleries of Justice'
Mich is awarded the Freedom of the City of Nottingham
Victoria, Mich and Jan's youngest daughter, joins Spenbeck
Long-serving, valued employees Pauline and Christine retire
Spenbeck is invited to join the Coutts Family Forum, an initiative providing opportunities for family business owners to meet and learn from each other
Becky, Mich and Jan's eldest daughter, joins Spenbeck
Mich is awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (Hon LLD) by Nottingham University to recognise his long-standing commitment to The Lace Market regeneration
Spenbeck begins a refurbishment programme of its 30,000 sq ft of creative space, including bespoke fit-outs and installs a dedicated uninterrupted lease line
The birth of the Creative Quarter brings significant investment into The Lace Market. Mich was instrumental in the establishment of this idea, which he devised following an invitation to attend an Entrepreneur’s Conference at the EU Parliament
Victoria becomes a trustee of Emmanuel House Support Centre
Becky becomes a Governor of Nottingham Girls' High School (GDST)
Succession of the family business is complete, with Victoria and Becky, daughters of Mich and Jan, now running the company
Winners: Forward Ladies 'SME Emerging' Regional Award
Shortlisted: Midlands Family Business Awards - Service Excellence
35th Anniversary
Victoria and Becky continue the family’s passion for restoring The Lace Market’s heritage and reinvigorating the area. Providing creative space in the Creative Quarter is key to their future plans, as are their philanthropic values, supporting charities and schools.
