Barker Collins invests £1.5m in ensuring its future growth

A MACHINING company based in Sheffield has invested £1.5m in new equipment, training and staff facilities as it looks to grow.

Barker Collins specialises in computer numerical control (CNC) machining for companies operating in sectors including energy, power generation, nuclear, defence and oil and gas exploration among others.

Among the materials it specialises in machining are cast iron, stainless steels, duplex and super duplex.

Funding for the investment has been partially sourced from the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) as well as Sheffield University’s GROW Programme and will be used to fund the purchase of £1.2m worth of new state-of-the-art machining equipment.

Managing director Chris Carter said that the new equipment will enable the company to “deliver the complex solutions a modern manufacturing company demands” while also allowing the company to diversify into new markets including the renewables and off-shore sectors.

The remainder of the investment will be spent on a training programme for new and existing staff as well as new changing rooms and a canteen.

He said: “We are trying to engage with a younger audience in order to build a dynamic team.

“Our aim is to create an engineering department that offers training across a range of disciplines and skills, whilst offering mentoring and support to our next generation of engineers.”