Gecko Headgear Limited

Gecko Headgear Limited is the brainchild of Jeff Sacreé, Managing Director. Based in Bude, Cornwall, and employing 6 Cornish locals, Jeff founded Gecko in 1993.

Jeff started making surfboards and supplying a surf shop in Newquay, then developed a lightweight helmet for surfers. In 1995 he succeeded in producing a lighter, safer helmet for the RNLI than the motorcycle helmets which they were using at the time. This was the big break for Jeff, with a first order from the RNLI for 1,500 helmets in 1998.

At this point, Gecko was able to expand and new customers, including the Ministry of Defence and the Australian Navy, started buying their helmets. Jeff now supplies the Canadian Coast Guard, the Hong Kong Police, the Environment Agency and the Swedish Rescue Service. Gecko Headgear’s production is 5,000 helmets per year, all made in their workshop in Bude.

When Gecko Headgear joined the UK Trade & Investment's Passport to Export scheme, the company met the Regional Language Network South West. As Gecko was due to go to China on a trade mission with Southampton Chamber of Commerce, Jeff was anxious to avoid any etiquette blunders, and asked RLN SW for help. As Gecko’s need was for in-depth knowledge about the business etiquette involved in trading with China and for some translations into Mandarin, including business cards, we recommended he contact a regional company which specialises both in Chinese business culture and language solutions.

Jeff Sacreé speaks highly of the RLN SW and the cultural advice he received, stating: “It made a huge difference having our material and business cards translated into Mandarin! We couldn’t have obtained all the information we needed, or managed to make the contacts that we did, without your help”.

Gecko are now awaiting prices from their Chinese contacts – if the price is right, a small part of their famous safety helmet could be coming from China – enabling the company to remain competitive while still keeping their main production here in Cornwall.

Visit the Gecko Headgear website at www.geckoheadgear.co.uk.

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