Swift Group outlines anniversary plans
ONE of the UK’s largest caravan, motorhome and holiday home manufacturers, the Swift Group, is celebrating its 50th year by launching a raft of new products and keeping a check on its carbon footprint.
The group operates from three sites in Cottingham, Hedon Road, Hull and Mexborough. It has 645,000 sq ft of factories and group turnover is just under £200m with nearly 900 employees.
The group says it will launch a number of “innovative” new products throughout its anniversary year.
Swift has also announced that it has signed a five year carbon management deal with Yorkshire energy consultancy Orchard Energy to enhance its environmental practices.
The contract will see Elland-headquartered Orchard handle the leisure firm’s reporting obligations under the Government’s Carbon Reduction Commitment.
Jim Bolton of Swift said the company had a longstanding commitment to responsible manufacturing and energy efficiency.
“We have invested heavily in our Cottingham site over the years to reduce waste and energy usage,” he said.
“Our current production facility, which opened in 2006, was specifically designed to minimise lighting and heating costs and we are keen to ensure that we are always doing everything we can to reduce our environmental impact.”
Swift has established export markets in Holland, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Australia and New Zealand and the East Yorkshire company, which has grown from small beginnings in 1964, now ranks among the largest companies of its type worldwide, is UK market leader in touring caravans and motorhomes and the third largest holiday home manufacturer.
Ken Smith founded the business and his son Peter is now chairman of the group.
Over the years, Swift has chalked up a number of industry firsts in all three product areas. In touring caravans the company was the first to feature see-through vision from the late 1960’s. In the 80s Swift developed its own in-house Glass Reinforced Plastic GRP manufacturing facility, which remains the only in-house GRP plant of any UK manufacturer today.
Cotswold Coachcraft was acquired in 1989 followed by Abbey Caravans in 1992, Bessacarr in 1996, the Sprite Leisure Group in 1994 and finally the ABI tourer brands in 2001.
The company moved into the motorhome market in 1985 with the launch of the trend setting Kon-tiki coachbuilt range. The group’s motorhome business has also grown rapidly over the years through product innovation and acquisition and Holiday Homes joined the group line up in 2004.
