Jobs to be created as machinery specialist announces expansion
Oakham-based machinery and vehicle dealer C&M Retail Group has announced a major expansion programme which will create up to 20 jobs after agreeing a funding deal to enable the development of a purpose-built industrial and business hub.
The deal, which will also enable the launch of a new vehicle sales company, was arranged by SME funding specialist One Stop Business Finance.
The funding gives the green light for C&M’s building phase at Hawksmead Business Park in Barleythorpe which is expected to be completed in around six months.
The company acquired the site opposite the Rutland Showground earlier this year having outgrown its current town centre site, and it is now able to bring its plans to fruition alongside joint-developer Moores Estate Agents.
Best known as C&M Tractors, the company has been based on Station Approach in the heart of the town for 49 years.
This part of the business will now be able to expand to meet customer demand for its range of horticultural and agricultural machinery, with additional space and facilities planned to add capacity.
In addition, the Barleythorpe development will be the base for its new business, C&M VSS. This will be a vehicle sales and servicing business specialising in cars and trucks between six months and five years old.
Tim Allen and Saxon Marlow, directors at C&M Tractors, said: “Creating a purpose-built hub that is designed to suit our requirements and allows us to grow has been a long-held ambition, so it is fantastic that we can now embark on a very exciting new era for our business.
“It’s no secret that we have been struggling for space on our current site, but we wanted to stay in the town to support the local economy and provide more jobs. That’s why we were delighted when the new site became available, and we are now looking forward to starting on-site after securing a finance deal that provides a flexible facility to drawdown as required for the build.”
Rebecca Ennis, business development manager at One Stop Business Finance added: “C&M Retail Group’s new development is excellent news for Oakham, and we wish Tim, Saxon and their team every success. As building developments like this almost always require a more flexible approach to funding in line with the key stages of the project, the larger banks are often unable to help.
“It was, in fact, one of the major banks who introduced us to C&M, who have now been able to benefit from our understanding and experience of development finance and our ability to complete deals that many banks can’t do.”
