Pland Stainless makes plans for future growth with apprentice drive
A MANUFACTURER of stainless steel sanitary ware used in hospitals, schools, laboratories and veterinary practices, has recruited new apprentices as it gears up for growth and invests for the future.
Leeds-based Pland Stainless has a turnover of £3.5m and saw strong sales over the summer months, largely thanks to investment in the education sector following the government’s school meals drive.
“We shipped orders worth £340,000 in August and had another £50,000 of orders in hand,” said operations director Ian Hodgson, who took over the company with managing director Steve Duree following a management buyout in 2008.
Hodgson said he sees scope for further growth in export markets, particularly in the Middle East, where Pland Stainless has just landed a £50,000 order for a range of bespoke products from Qatar University.
“We exhibited at the Arab Health exhibition in Dubai earlier this year with UKTI and Medilink. We’re continuing to develop relationships struck up while we were out there,” he said.
“The order from Qatar is one that we’ve been courting since September 2013 and it’s great to finally get it over the line but we’re aware from experience how much effort is needed to build overseas sales.”
The four new apprentices joined the company in September 2014 and were recruited with help from Leeds Apprentice Training Agency (ATA).
Pland’s four new recruits have joined a 50-plus workforce, with two apprentices working on the shop floor in production, one based in the warehouse and another in business support.
“The help we’ve had from the ATA with selection and managing the apprentices has taken a lot of the hassle away. It’s great to be able to bring new blood into the company.”
