Surveying firm transforms former fizzy drinks factory into purpose-built headquarters
A surveying and engineering company has invested £500,000 in new purpose-built headquarters in South Yorkshire by transforming a former fizzy drinks factory.
1st Horizon, which specialises in 3D laser scanning of buildings and surveying for underground pipes and cables, will officially open The Old Pop Factory in Barnsley next month.
The company has spent the last two years restoring the former Beardsall Bros soft drinks factory in Dodworth.
Jim Garside, 1st Horizon’s managing director, said: “After viewing offices in and around the Barnsley area, we found The Old Pop Factory site where we could design and construct our own, purpose-made facility – it just seemed to make sense.
“It’s taken two years of hard work to sympathetically restore the 18th century barn into a bespoke and contemporary office space which will enable us to develop the 1st Horizon brand and expand our service portfolio, while providing an inspiring workplace for employees.
“Our new location in Dodworth also provides excellent local facilities and better recruitment opportunities, with good links to nearby towns and cities.”
Set up in 2006, 1st Horizon employs 30 staff including five apprentices.
The company was one of the first in the UK to invest in 3D scanners which are used in anything from sewage works and reservoirs, to supermarkets and schools. It has recently completed a large survey for the M1 Smart motorways scheme – one of the largest survey projects in the UK.
