A Coventry firm which has built its reputation by creating comfortable working conditions for clients is doing the same for its own employees.

McCarthy Associates, who specialise in the design and fit of interiors for commercial premises for blue-chip customers such as Jaguar Cars Ltd, Rover Group, Severn Trent Water and Courtaulds Plc has commissioned a range of brand new workwear for its team of craftsmen.

The Broad Lane company - one of three finalists for the Coventry Evening Telegraph's Business of the Year award - wanted the clothing to be practical, comfortable and smart.

They found just what they were looking for at city firm John Astley & Sons whose Industrial and Consumable Division has won the contract to supply a range of garments in McCarthy's high-impact black and white colour scheme.

"Comfort is a top priority for our fitting team because of the nature of the work," said Mark Pickering, director of McCarthy's.

"Our fitters can spend a lot of time down at floor level, often in hot and cramped conditions, so they needed clothes that would be cool and wouldn't restrict them in any way."

Astleys Industrial Consumables Division already supplies the company with a range of specialist tools and consumables, including work boots so they were well equipped to provide the new hardwearing polo shirts with the McCarthy logo, trousers and fleece jackets.

Mark Pickering said:

"As well as being highly functional, the new workwear has been designed to support our corporate identity.

"We now have a much stronger visual presence on our customers' premises with the added benefit that the fitters now feel more like a team and we have now introduced the workwear across other departments.

"We are already putting the workwear to the test and found the new garments both tough and comfortable," he added.