Entrepreneur gallops ahead

A YOUNG Yorkshire entrepreneur who specialises in work wear and promotional clothing has landed the contract to provide all the uniforms for racecourse staff working at the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National.

Twenty-four-year-old AJ Swinbank, who runs the Leyburn-based 121 Workwear is making bespoke jackets, fleeces and beanie hats for staff at the Cheltenham Festival this month and the Grand National at Aintree next month.

These racecourse contracts, combined with a new contract to supply work uniforms for Ecolab UK, the leading hygiene services company, will take 121 Workwear’s annual turnover past £1m.

Swinbank, who founded the company 18 months ago, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be providing staff uniforms at events as prestigious as the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National. These are iconic sporting events, not just in this country, but around the world, and we are honoured to be part of them.

“These two contracts will also enable me to hire more staff, taking 121 Workwear’s staff into double figures. They are also a resounding endorsement of the quality of our work and the fact that we can provide new staff clothing to order, on time and within budget.”

121Workwear has just invested £100,000 to treble the size of its Leyburn production unit and quadruple its production facility. This investment includes state-of-the-art screen printing facilities and a brand-new sale offices.

Swinbank added: “These are tremendously exciting times for the company. I have a dedicated and committed workforce, who are determined to make 121 Workwear a success. I also have complete confidence in the clothes we are producing and the client feedback has been amazing.”