Property purchase lays foundations for growth for Chorley firm

A specialist groundwork company from Chorley has secured a £700,000 loan from Barclays to acquire a former agricultural site in Eccleston that will be converted to offices and storage for their business.

Town and Country Vibro is a fast-growing company, specialising in the design and installation of Vibro stone columns across the UK.

The business was established in 2013 and made the FTSE 1000 list of Europe’s fastest growing companies in 2018.

The business undertakes groundworks using specialists rigs to improve ground using stone columns.

As the probe is vibrating, it is driven into the ground, removed and aggregate is poured in to form a stone column which is compacted as the probe is re-driven into it.

A small, but growing, industry in the UK, there are only a handful of companies able to carry out this type of specialist work. However, the process is more widely used outside the UK.

Director Andrew Roberts said: “The opportunity to purchase the site in Eccleston could not have come at a better time for us.

“We have outgrown our existing premises and the new buildings will allow us to store our plant indoors and in the same location.”

Ian Shelmerdine, relationship director for Barclays, said: “Like many of our customers, Town and Country decided the time was right for further investment to grow the company.

“The energy and passion of all the staff has enabled them to achieve phenomenal growth in a short space of time.”

He added: “This is a well-run, growing business and is now ideally positioned to continue on its growth track over the coming years.

“The close relationship helps us to understand the key drivers for the business which, in turn, has enabled us to support them on this journey.”