Furniture firm to create jobs following £100,000 grant for site acquisition

Worcestershire business Witley Jones Furniture is set to ramp up production and create jobs after securing a £100,000 grant to buy new premises.

The company is buying a facility near to its current site which will see it expand its floor space by 5000 sq ft and enable it to increase production of bespoke furniture by 20% for education sector clients and create 11 jobs.

Central Finance, a Midlands-based finance broker sourced the grant through The Worcestershire Growth Fund, administered by Worcestershire County Council and part funded by the European Regional Development Fund for the Stourport on Severn-based business.

Witley Jones Furniture, based at Sandy Lane Industrial Estate, has been trading since 1996 specialises in bespoke design manufacture and installation of education furniture for clients in the UK, Europe and across the world.

Chris Jones, managing director, says: “The variety of work we do here at Witley Furniture requires significant experience, high-quality workmanship, the very best machinery and technology and more importantly a significant space to house it all. To continually develop and diversify our products, ensure our products are the highest quality on the market, and keep up with demand, we needed to invest in machinery and additional premises.

“To purchase the property was going to be a huge financial commitment for the business, and I had heard of grant funding for manufacturing businesses was available in Worcestershire and called Central Finance directly due to their grant funding success. It was clear after meeting Alison, who has years of experience working with manufacturers to access Grant funding that Central Finance would help us achieve our goals and invest in our future.”

Alison Bradley, managing director, Central Finance, added: “Working with Chris to achieve a six-figure grant package to purchase additional premises to increase production and ultimately turnover has been a real success story for both Central Finance and Witley Jones Furniture.

“It is largely believed out there in the business world grants are a thing of the past, and funding has dried up. However, there are pockets of funding available for the right business that meets the right criteria. This is why accessing grant funding does require significant experience to be successful. Central Finance is one of the only FCA authorised commercial finance brokers in the Midlands who advise clients on grant funding, and I am incredibly pleased to have achieved this grant funding support for Witley Jones to fund the purchase of their new premises to expand their business.”

 

Close