Jobs created as engineering firm completes factory move
Group Rhodes, the Wakefield-based advanced engineering company, has moved to new premises on Calder Vale, creating 21 jobs.
The new site is only half a mile from where the business was founded in 1824.
The company, which designs, manufactures and services machinery for the clay preparation, metalworking and materials handling industries, has invested £800,000 in its new premises, equipment and its infrastructure, including new heating and extraction systems, office equipment, new electrics and IT systems, mezzanine floors and production machinery.
In addition, Group Rhodes secured a Leeds City Region LEP grant of £70,000, which helped to create the new roles.
Over the past 12 months, the company has also invested in its service fleet, with eight new commercial vehicles acquired, taking the total investment in the business over the last 12 months to over £1m.
Roger Marsh, chair of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), officially opened the new Calder Vale site.
He said: “This is an exciting time for Group Rhodes as the business relocates onto one site, right in the heart of Wakefield. The grant has enabled the company to grow even further, creating several new employment opportunities in the area. The new factory gives a fantastic view of modern manufacturing and we wish Group Rhodes all the best for the future.”
Group Rhodes CEO Mark Ridgway said: “By operating from these purpose-equipped premises and with access to the latest technology and equipment, we can now collaborate even better as a business and extend our growth into new UK and international markets, creating further prosperity in this region. We are very excited about what the future holds for all our staff and our business.”
