Broxtowe Council leader calls for Government help to save Raleigh legacy
A last-ditch effort to salvage the legacy of the iconic Eastwood bike company Raleigh could be made after it went into administration.
Raleigh was purchased by the Netherlands-based Accell Group for around €60m in 2012.
This was renamed Accell UK & Ireland Ltd in 2025.
But the firm appointed administrators earlier this month, with the Dutch company announcing it could not resolve its financial problems.
Now, Broxtowe Council leader Coun Milan Radulovic (Brox All)has called on the Government to intervene to help preserve the company’s name.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the authority was considering approaching the Government to help buy the name ‘Raleigh’ from the administrators.
He said: “It’s for Broxtowe Council and Raleigh to have a joint approach, go to the Secretary of State for trade and industry and ask if they can salvage the legacy name ‘Raleigh’ back from the administrators.”
Coun Radulovic said council officers were in contact with the company to discuss how the cycle brand could return to its home county, potentially in partnership with a Raleigh museum to honour its heritage.
He added that at this stage, it is ‘just an idea’ and the authority should be looking at ‘constructive ways’ to bring business to Broxtowe and return investment to the country.
He continued: “We need the Government to start supporting British industry, instead of allowing it to be sold up and broken up overseas.
“The Government has a major opportunity to work with the local authority and Raleigh, one that would last generations to come and bring jobs into this country – that’s what patriotism looks like.”
At present, the leader says the concept would include manufacturing, assembly and a bike museum to ‘protect the heritage’ of the brand.
Coun Radulovic also says there may already be a suitable option within Broxtowe borough for Raleigh to move into – right next to Bennerley Viaduct’s new visitor centre in Awsworth – which could be made ready ‘immediately’.
He continued: “We could relocate it to a suitable premises, we can facilitate the move into a premises in the industrial units and also help to create a cycle museum there to help stimulate further interest in the new Bennerley industrial units as well.
“I certainly believe it would be a major name again, given the right help and stimulation.
“We need jobs in this country, we need training, education and if we don’t have something to do in manufacturing, what’s the point in having training opportunities for people?”
The LDRS approached the Department for Business and Trade for comment on these early plans and whether the Government would consider working with the council to help bring Raleigh back into the country.
The department said it would not be able to offer a comment on any purchase of the company brand at this stage, but an Insolvency Service spokesperson said in a statement: “The Redundancy Payments Service is aware of claims relating to the insolvency of Accell UK & Ireland Ltd (trading as Raleigh) and is working with the appointed insolvency practitioner to process these claims, which will be completed at the earliest opportunity.”
Accell’s administrators have been contacted for comment.