Former Rolls Royce site makes way for £13m industrial scheme
A family-run Black Country manufacturer has moved and doubled the size of its factory following a £13m brownfield regeneration scheme.
Drywall Steel Sections has relocated from Cradley Heath to a new 39,850 sq ft factory on the G5 Industrial Park in Ettingshall, Wolverhampton. The site had stood vacant since 2008 after luxury car maker Rolls Royce ceased using it.
The West Midlands Combined Authority has made a £7.59m investment into construction of the unit and G5 Industrial Park, comprising 17 commercial start units totalling 44,100 sq ft. Around 150 jobs are expected to be based there once the units are occupied.
Funds have also been used in part to cover the costs of dealing with several historic mine shafts on the site off Spring Road and making it fit for redevelopment.
The manufacturer of light gauge structural steel framing as well as systems for wall partitions and ceilings is part of a family-owned group of companies set up by Rajinder and Sunita Gupta more than 20 years ago. Since joining the business six years ago, their son Mayank has taken over as the managing director, and the firm is seeing new growth through fresh vigour.
Mayank Gupta, who previously worked in television production management and the financial sector before joining the family firm, said: “We are proud to bring Drywall Steel Sections Ltd’s headquarters back to our home city of Wolverhampton.
“Our new headquarters is equipped to handle significantly more manufacturing capacity with a much more efficient production process, allowing us to remain competitive in the market. Alongside our family investment, we are most grateful to the WMCA for its support in unlocking this brownfield site.
“The new Drywall HQ and commercial starter units on G5 Industrial Park will help safeguard current jobs and provide a much improved facility for the existing team. It will also create new jobs, help smaller businesses to grow in brand new premises, and boost the region’s economy.
Andy Street, Mayor for the West Midlands, and Chair of the WMCA, said: “I was here 12 months ago to watch work start on Drywall’s new factory so it’s exciting to be back and see them up and running in their new home.
“Manufacturers like Drywall are incredibly important to our regional economy which is why we use the money we secure from government to support those businesses who want to grow and generate new jobs for local people.
“We are also continuing to protect our green belt by prioritising investment on the regeneration of brownfield sites like this one. It’s important we clean up these sites to provide high quality affordable housing for local people and modern commercial premises for our businesses, helping to attract further investment into our region.
“Now Drywall are in their new factory I can’t wait to see them continue to grow and prosper in the years ahead.”
