Branding business injects £3m in former factory for new HQ
A GLOBAL branding business is investing £3m to transform a former Yorkshire factory into its new headquarters.
Huddersfield-based Principle is forecasting turnover for 2014/15 of more than £100m and to aid its growth is redeveloping the former Remploy factory, which closed last year, based opposite the current offices, into its new state-of-the-art headquarters.
Principle, an international brand implementation company, helps businesses with signage, graphics, interiors and fit out, among other areas, and has a host of clients including BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Chrysler, HSBC and Barclays.
The new 36,000 sq ft headquarters will add to the firm’s current Huddersfield offices, which are around 70,000 sq ft.
The site will be an interchangeable building, so can be set up as a car showroom one day and a banking office the next, which the firm believes is a benchmark in the industry.
Chairman Richard Butterfield said: “This will be a flagship for Principle. We are proud of how we have grown as a company and the global brands we support, and this new building will be a true reflection of that.
“We have worked extremely hard to be in a strong position both financially and in terms of our international reach, and we are proud of the relationships that we have developed that we hope will ultimately be of benefit to both Yorkshire and the UK.”
The project is still in its early stages, but the firm says about 30 extra staff will be employed as a result, with more in the pipeline, to add to the business’s 350 employees, 110 of which are based in Yorkshire.
Principle, launched in 1987, has established offices in the USA, Germany, France, Italy, Brazil, China and India. It has also recently opened offices in Australia, South Africa, Dubai and Japan.
Jason McCartney, MP for Colne Valley, said: “Principle are a local company going global. It’s great that they haven’t forgotten their local roots with their UK headquarters in Huddersfield, whilst they have offices around the world and operate in over 60 countries. I will be doing all I can to support and encourage Richard and his team as they continue to work with clients around the globe.”
This year, Principle was listed in the London Stock Exchange publication, 1000
Companies to Inspire Britain.
