City Enterprise Zone boosted by new manufacturer
THE economy of Hereford has received a boost with the relocation of a manufacturing business to the city’s Enterprise Zone, bringing with it the promise of new jobs.
The Woodstock Trading Company, which produces distinctive bathroom furniture, has set up its distribution and assembly centre on a three-acre site on Skylon Park in Rotherwas.
The firm moved from Gloucestershire with 45 employees and is expecting to create the new jobs within the next three years.
Skylon Park is the 72-acre site designated as the Enterprise Zone of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, the private sector-led organisation tasked with revitalising the economy of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
It has already attracted major developments including a regional centre for Western Power Distribution, construction industry supplier Marches Global and Beck Products, a leading UK supplier to the construction and horticultural industries.
Ben Doouss, managing partner of the Woodstock Trading Company, said: “We are very pleased to have moved onto the Enterprise Zone. For us, it was about finding a location that would allow us the space to grow the business while providing the infrastructure to hit the ground running.
“The location of the zone, along with the incentives to move onto Skylon Park, meant it was the ideal location for us. We are looking forward to establishing ourselves here and expanding the business in the future.”
Chairman of the Enterprise Zone Board, Bill Jackson, said: “We worked closely with The Woodstock Trading Company to help them achieve the vision they had for their new headquarters.
“This new investment on Skylon Park illustrates the flexibility we can offer to businesses of all shapes and sizes that are looking to move on to the world class business landscape we are creating.”
Businesses moving onto Skylon Park benefit from a range of incentives including simplified and free planning, superfast and ultrafast broadband and business rates relief.
Herefordshire Council owns 80% of the land in the zone with the remainder owned by the Goodwin Trust.
