Shed loads of orders for manufacturing firm

A business in Bradford is ramping up its production thanks to new machinery.

Power Sheds, based on Euroway Trading Estate, was set up in April by entrepreneurs Jack Sutcliffe and Simon Hodson. In the first month they manufactured 15 sheds but are now producing up to 400 per month and are still growing.

The pair are aiming to triple the size of the company within the next year, which will include recruiting more staff.

Power Sheds has already started to develop partnerships with garden centres which are now selling their products around the UK.

The company has developed a pallet which forms the base of every shed it produces. The panels are flat-packed and delivered for customers to assemble themselves, meaning the time taken to manufacture each shed is significantly reduced.

Sutcliffe said: “I know from experience working in the industry that the average time from ordering a shed to delivery is four to five weeks, but we guarantee the customer will receive our sheds within three working days.”

The company has been able to speed up manufacturing thanks to a new automated saw, which cuts the timber to the correct length. The purchase of the saw has been supported by a £6,000 grant from AD:VENTURE, a business support program for new businesses in North and West Yorkshire funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The equipment means Power Sheds is now looking to expand into Europe.

“Having the new saw has streamlined the cutting process which has freed up people to do other things,” Sutcliffe added. “It’s made a massive difference to the way we operate because we are no longer restricted by our capacity.

“From a sales perspective we don’t expect it to be difficult to reach our target of tripling in size. It’s just being able to meet the demand which we have struggled with, so the new equipment is helping us in that respect.”

Steve Hartley, strategic director for Bradford Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see a local company identifying a gap in the market and enjoying huge growth as a result of that.

“Bradford Council is delighted to be a partner in the AD:VENTURE programme. We understand the importance of supporting the growth of start-ups and Power Sheds is a great example of how valuable that support can be for our local businesses.”