WORKERS on a business park have a definite spring in their step - thanks to the ancient art of feng shui!

Since a catering firm decided to use the mystic practice to try to improve the working environment for its staff, the idea is catching on with neighbouring firms at the Lomeshaye Business Village, Nelson.

And they reckon it has made their offices a happier place to work.

An interest in feng shui led Liz Henney of Catering Distributors Alliance (CDA) to persuade her five colleagues at the firm to agree to a trial period of using new colours, shapes and plants in their offices.

And Liz reckons results from using feng shui - which is said to work by creating positive energy from the layout of furniture and the use of colour and plants - were almost instant. "We all believe that these elements have contributed towards a happy working environment here," said Liz, operations manager for the firm, which acts as a buying consortium for catering wholesalers..

"As far as we are concerned feng shui increases the level of productivity and makes everyone feel good, so we will continue to use it," said Liz.

Neighbouring firm Contenur, which manufactures wheelie bins, has also decided to use feng shui in its offices after seeing the success at CDA.

And other firms in the village complex have asked to see what CDA has done.

"At first what we were doing might have seemed a trifle eccentric but with other firms here taking such an interest it looks as if we may have started a trend!"

Troy McKee, Liz Henney, Janette Patten and Mary Jones are pictured in their redesigned work-place at Catering Distributors Alliance, Nelson.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.