From Solo Parent to General Manager How Katie Furniss Helped Build Velair's High-Growth Success Story
Featuring: Katie Furniss, General Manager, Velair Group
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When Katie Furniss talks about leadership, she doesn't start with strategy, growth plans or financial targets.
She starts with her son.
Everything she has achieved over the past decade—from rebuilding her life after a difficult separation to leading one of the South Coast's fastest-growing SMEs—can be traced back to a simple determination to create opportunities for her child and prove that setbacks do not have to define your future.
"I want to show him that no matter what's thrown your way, you can overcome it."
Today, Katie is General Manager of Velair Group, an innovative washroom and hygiene solutions business based in New Milton. The company has grown by more than 300% in recent years, expanded internationally, acquired new businesses, and built a reputation for innovation in a sector most people rarely think about.
But neither Katie's career nor Velair's success followed a conventional path.
Choosing a Different Route
Growing up between Devon and the New Forest, Katie always leaned towards the creative side of life.
Art, photography and geography were her favourite subjects at Brockenhurst College. Numbers and finance, she laughs, were never her natural territory.
Unlike many of her peers, she also knew university wasn't the right choice.
"I realised I was only looking at university because that's what society tells you that you should do."
Without a clear career destination in mind, she couldn't justify the time, debt and commitment that higher education would require. Instead, she chose independence.
She entered the workforce, initially taking on a demanding care role supporting severely autistic children. While rewarding, the emotional demands quickly taught her an important lesson about herself.
"I think you're either made for that kind of work or you're not." Recognising that early allowed her to pivot without regret.
The next chapter came at Wightlink Ferries, where she started in a seasonal administrative role. What was intended as a short-term opportunity became an eight-year career.
As is often the case with ambitious people, she steadily took on more responsibility, progressing into supervisory roles while building her professional confidence.
Life, however, had other plans.
The Moment Everything Changed
During her time at Wightlink, Katie became a mother. Then, almost overnight, her world changed.
The breakdown of her marriage left her facing a challenge she had never anticipated: becoming a solo parent while simultaneously rebuilding her career and financial security.
"I went from a family unit of three to being an only parent."
The emotional impact was significant, but practical realities quickly took centre stage. She needed employment that worked around childcare, school schedules and the responsibilities of raising a young son on her own.
For a period, she took a local part-time role in property management. It provided stability at a time when stability mattered most.
Yet deep down she knew she was capable of more. "There was always this niggling feeling that I could do more."
That instinct would prove correct.
Starting Again at Velair
When Katie joined Velair in 2021, she entered as a part-time administrator working three days a week around nursery hours.
At the time, Velair was already developing a reputation for innovation within the washroom industry. Founded by entrepreneur Matt Anderson, the business had identified a simple but powerful problem.
Traditional commercial hand dryers required electricians for installation, replacement and maintenance. Velair's answer was a Plug & Play® system that allowed units to be swapped in minutes without specialist labour.
It was a deceptively simple innovation that delivered major benefits for facilities managers, washroom service providers and end users alike.
"We were the Apple in a world of Nokias."
The company was growing, but still relatively small. That created opportunities for people willing to take ownership and embrace new challenges.
Katie quickly became one of those people.
As her son started primary school, she moved into full-time work. Promotions followed. Business Support Manager. Marketing leadership. Channel management.
And then, just five years after joining the company, General Manager. Today she oversees the day-to-day operation of the entire business.
Building a Business Through Innovation
The growth of Velair mirrors Katie's own journey. Both have been driven by a willingness to evolve.
What began as a hand-dryer specialist has expanded into a much broader hygiene and washroom solutions business. A major milestone came with the acquisition of Envirosave, bringing innovative fragrance technology into the group's portfolio.
The acquisition opened new opportunities and accelerated growth.
By combining complementary customer bases and introducing additional product categories, Velair transformed from a specialist supplier into a broader solutions provider.
The results have been remarkable. From 2022 to 2026, the company grew by more than 319%.
Yet unlike many businesses experiencing rapid expansion, Velair has maintained a deliberately lean structure.
That growth has demanded flexibility, resilience and teamwork from everyone involved.
"It's hard," Katie admits. "But it's incredibly rewarding."
Creating a Culture People Want to Be Part Of
Ask Katie what makes Velair different and she doesn't immediately talk about products.
She talks about people. "We're warm." It is a word she returns to repeatedly.
Despite ambitious growth targets, international partnerships and increasingly sophisticated systems, preserving that culture remains one of her biggest priorities.
The company embraces a simple philosophy: give flexibility when people need it and they will give flexibility when the business needs it.
That approach has allowed Katie to balance leadership responsibilities with parenthood, attend school events, bring her son into the office when necessary and maintain the family-first priorities that matter most to her.
The same culture extends across the wider team.
Away days, shared celebrations and open communication have become important tools for maintaining connection as the business grows.
One particularly memorable initiative involved asking employees to anonymously write positive reflections about their colleagues.
The exercise generated an overwhelmingly emotional response.
People discovered strengths, qualities and contributions that others had noticed but rarely expressed. "It filled their cup."
For Katie, leadership is less about directing people and more about creating an environment where they can thrive.
Learning to Lead
One of the most significant chapters in Katie's recent development came through the Help to Grow programme at Southampton Business School.
Like many emerging leaders, she wrestled with self-doubt despite her achievements.
"I always thought everyone else knew exactly what they were doing."
Through mentoring and peer support, she began to realise something important. Most leaders are still learning. Most businesses are still figuring things out.
And confidence doesn't come from having all the answers—it comes from trusting your ability to solve problems when they arise.
Her mentor challenged her to recognise how much she had already achieved. The impact was transformative.
"I do know what I'm doing. Not all the time, but most of the time."
That shift in confidence has helped her embrace one of the most challenging aspects of leadership: making difficult decisions while remaining authentic.
It has also strengthened her commitment to creating a workplace where people feel safe enough to admit mistakes, ask for help and keep learning.
Looking Ahead
The next chapter for Velair is ambitious.
The company plans to double in size over the next three to five years through new products, new markets and continued innovation.
At the same time, Katie remains focused on preserving the qualities that made the business successful in the first place.
The challenge is familiar to many growing SMEs: scaling without losing your identity.
For Katie, the answer lies in maintaining the culture, values and relationships that have fuelled the company's success so far.
Because while products, technologies and markets will continue to evolve, people remain at the heart of everything.
And for someone who started as a part-time administrator while navigating one of the most difficult periods of her life, that's perhaps the most important lesson of all.
Success isn't about having the perfect plan. It's about having the courage to keep moving forward.