Jobs created as agricultural equipment firm builds new premises
A Stoke-on-Trent manufacturer of agricultural equipment has received a six-figure funding package to build new premises, creating 50 jobs.
IAE, manufacturer of livestock handling equipment, equestrian stabling, steel fencing and shelters has used the funding from HSBC UK to create an 84,000 sq ft production facility for manufacturing plus a 39,000 sq ft in-house demonstration and learning centre for employee and customer training.
The development will also include 116,000 sq ft of external storage area for materials.
IAE currently employs 450 people from Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding area. The new development will allow IAE to relocate a section of its workforce from an existing site in Cheadle, Staffordshire to the main site in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, enabling all the employees to be based at a single site.
Upon completion of the development, IAE expects to create a further 50 jobs across the business.
Frank Klucznik, managing director at IAE, said: “We purchased the site in 2014. It was formerly an old colliery so, over the last two years, our contractors have been undertaking major remediation work in order to prepare the land for the build phase. Our plans for the site include a purpose-built manufacturing facility, which will hugely increase our capacity, as well as a customer experience centre which will double-up as a training facility for our apprentices and employees.
“We’re really excited to have secured the funds from HSBC UK to begin building. It’s an important moment for IAE and allows the business to move forward with our long-term growth strategy.”
Peter Wilbraham, corporate relationship director for HSBC UK, added: “I am pleased that HSBC UK has facilitated this funding package for IAE, a business that has always had a fantastic reputation for high quality manufacturing and is a much-loved family business. The new production facility, as well as an in-house demonstration and learning centre, will facilitate the creation of 50 new jobs.”
