In Brief: Victory Leisure Homes; Norking Aluminium; Selby Self Storage and more
A SUCCESSFUL winter show season has turned into increased sales for East Yorkshire caravan manufacturer Victory Leisure Homes.
The Gilberdyke business, which is owned by Hull family company J.R. Rix & Sons, has seen a flurry of new orders just weeks after exhibiting at shows in Manchester, Birmingham and Scotland.
The company was also the only UK maker to visit several European shows in La Rochelle and Montpellier in France and Brussels in Belgium, which lead to a 14% increase in export sales.
Managing director Peter Nevitt said total company sales were approximately 9% ahead of where they were the same time last year.
He said: “The caravan industry remains a difficult market, but quite a bit of the interest from the shows has turned into sales and we are ahead of where we were at the same time last year, which is really pleasing.”
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NINETY eight jobs have been lost at a Doncaster manufacturing company after it went into administration.
Norking Aluminium, which specialised in the manufacture and installation of bespoke aluminium and glass facades, had suffered cashflow problems as a result of a slump in the construction industry which it supplied.
Despite a healthy order book, the company, based on the LKH Estate on Tickhill Road in Balby, had accumulated tax arrears during a tough trading period and had entered a Time to Pay arrangement with the tax authorities before insolvency specialist Wilson Field was appointed as administrators on April 4. Despite efforts a buyer has not yet been secured.
Wilson Field insolvency practitioner Lisa Hogg said: “The directors sought our advice after a proposed finance package fell through. At this stage there were few options available for us other than to seek a new owner and despite our succeeding in finding several parties with an interest in the business at this late stage, none of these have yet amounted to anything.
“As the company was not in a position to continue trading, it was with regret that all 98 staff have been made redundant. We will be working alongside all stakeholders to determine the most appropriate next steps for the benefit of all creditors.”
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SELBY Self Storage has launched a new site.
With funding from Barclays, the business, which provides automated self-store in a safe and secure environment for general public and businesses, has opened at Selby Business Park.
Ross Stewart, owner of Selby Self Store, said: “It occurred to me that we didn’t have any storage facilities locally and the business park in Selby seemed a great location to launch. Barclays provided an innovative and flexible funding package for me to expand and the unit provides high end modern self-store facilities that people locally are finding invaluable.”
The new unit has created two new jobs – and phase two expansion plans are already underway.
Kelvin Smith, senior business banking manager at Barclays arranged the funding and said: “Ross is a longstanding and valuable customer and so when he decided to launch the new business we were delighted to provide the funding. It’s great to see a local business taking advantage of low interest rates and investing for the future, creating jobs and contributing to the local economy.”
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AN HISTORIC pub is returning to its coaching house roots with the opening of a new bed and breakfast.
The Plough Inn at Fulford in York has undergone major refurbishment works as part of a financing package from NatWest and its asset finance partner Lombard.
The Plough, which is more than 300 years old, has belonged to twin sisters Kim Martin and Sue Curtis since 2004.
The pub has secured £137,000 in funding for the works and six en-suite bedrooms have been created. The kitchen has also been extended and undergone major refurbishment.
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CABLE cleat manufacturer Ellis has become the first company in the world to produce a two-in-one cable guide and clamp.
It designed the product for Siemens.
“We have always taken great pride in our ability to innovate, but to be asked to do so in a live project situation was certainly a real test of our mettle,” said Ellis’ managing director, Richard Shaw.
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WORK is underway to install new toll booths on the Humber Bridge as part of a multi-million pound scheme to modernise the way toll-charges are collected.
The work will see the number of booths on each side of the bridge reduced from three to six to accommodate an automated tolling system and two free flow lanes, as part of the on-going Humber Bridge Toll Project.
All of the booths are forecast to be in situ by late June or early July but will continue to be staffed and manually operated for the coming months.
