Shrub company aims to grow

A YORKSHIRE company is hoping to break into the US shrub and tree market with the help of a £100,000 loan.

Proptek, based in Gargrave, near Skipton, designs and produces hi-tech plant trays for the US vegetable market.

The loan from Partnership Investment finance (PIF) will be used to help develop new designs and market them into the consumer nursery industry.

The special trays are the size of a beer crate and help propagate plants with stronger and healthier roots. The company also supplies machinery used to fill seed and plant trays.

Although the business operates from Gargrave, the trays are manufactured in the USA under license by a subcontracted company.

John Cooley, Proptek’s owner, says: “The US nursery market is important to our future growth and the capital will enable us to market our products effectively. Partnership Investment Finance seem to be more business orientated than the banks, arranging our loan quickly and efficiently. This meant there was no delay in getting our marketing programme up and running in the nursery sector.”

Johnathan Craig, lending manager at PIF, said: “Proptek have achieved a great deal in the North American market but needed that extra little bit of help to open up new markets. We’ve worked closely with their financial advisers Pearson and Associates to give them the support to help them reach their objectives.”

PIF is an investment fund aimed at supporting growing businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber.