Manufacturing companies get financial support to help with development and growth
Several local manufacturing companies in the West Yorkshire area have received financial assistance to help grow their business and unlock potential.
The support ranges from business advice to actual financial contribution towards investments, which can help businesses to grow and prosper.
Independent Business consultant Iqbal Bhana OBE, DL has helped several businesses secure business support grants from regional funding bodies which has enabled businesses to invest in new plant and machinery, increase their production capacity, improve their turnover and meet customer demands faster, Iqbal said “unfortunately within the Asian business community there is enormous lack of awareness of the extent of support that is available out there from various government backed institutions whose task is to support local business and create jobs.
The support rangers from business advice, to financial grants to help businesses invest a new plant and machinery thus allowing them to develop, grow and prosper and, in the process create much-needed jobs in the region.
One local business which has been a recent beneficiary of grant support is Timberland based in Batley, the company employs 12 people and supplies wood based components mainly to the bed manufacturing companies, the company which has been going for 4 years had outgrown its production capacity and was finding it difficult to keep up with demands, in order to ensure business continuity, innovation and meet the growing demands from customers Timberland needed to invest in new state-of-the-art machinery.
Timberland with the support, guidance and assistance from Iqbal Bhana working in partnership with the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was able to secure financial support which enabled Timberland to investment in a new “state-of-the-art” machinery which has enabled Timberland to increase production capacity by over 50% as well as, develop new and innovative products.
This new investment has not only given Timberland added capacity but the ability to meet customer demands faster as well as develop new and innovative products.
Mr Asad Khan Director of Timberland said “we were struggling to meet demands being placed upon us by our customers and desperately needed to invest in new plant and machinery, the grant has enabled us to bring forward our growth plans, without the financial support we would not have been able to grow as quickly or as fast as we have managed to do, this has also enabled us to not only secure and strengthen our existing supply contracts but to attract new businesses, our ability to be innovative and the ability to meet demand and manage quick turnaround has helped our business grow faster then we expected, the financial assistance from the LEP has helped give our business added security as well as new opportunities, in the process we have created 4 new jobs thus helping reduce unemployment.
The grant has given our business real boost.
Iqbal Bhana has really helped us, he was able to analyse our needs and identify solutions to our problems, without his help we would not have managed put into practice our growth plans.
Roger Marsh, Chair of the LEP said: “This is a fantastic example of how the LEP is supporting local Asian businesses to invest in premises, purchase new machinery, ensure existing jobs are retained and create new employment and business opportunities. The LEP can support businesses based in the region who want to grow or upskill their staff. All you need to do is pick up the phone and speak to one of our business support team who can talk through the options available.”
Another company, which has benefited from financial support, is Smartway Imports Ltd, which is based in Savile Town, Dewsbury. The business was established over 10 years ago and supplies Toy and Nursery products, they are wholesalers and distributers and online retailers who specialise in kids ride on cars, they are licensed distributers of Mercedes Benz, BMW, Land Rover, Audi, Ferrari, Lamborghini battery operated ride on cars.
Smartways was operating from a building which had limited access and space, they badly needed larger premises to expand the range of products they carried and to develop a modern assembly facility, with assistance from the Business Growth Fund they have now acquired and are in the process of moving to a much larger premised on Geldered Road, in Birstall. Shakil Patel Director of the company said “the grant has allowed to us to expand our range of products, and will improve the service we offer to our customers, without the support from the Business Growth Fund and the assistance provided by Iqbal Bhana we would not have been able to realise our potential, based on our projected growth plans we expect the investment will allow us to grow our business over the next 3 years by 30-40% and create 4 new jobs over the next 12 months.
Luxury Beds Ltd has just moved from a 7000 ft.² manufacturing base in Batley Carr to a 25,000 ft.² factory unit in Dewsbury. Luxury Bed manufactures Divan Beds, Bases, and Mattresses mainly supplying to online bed retailers and Independent Traders. They were facing difficulty in meeting customer demand and were turning down orders due to lack of sufficient production capacity.
Michael Haigh General Manager of the company said “the extra space will allow us to increase our production capacity by 50%, this should ensure not only sustainability but more importantly allow us to grow, it is important for us to make sure we meet our customers needs, the grant has given us the opportunity to grow as a company and we are committed to creating new jobs in the area.
Iqbal Bhana said he was pleased that these companies who are thriving business have benefited, they all have an excellent range of products who as a result of the new investment now have better opportunity to grow and diversify with a bright future ahead of them.
These small business are the driving force of our economy and we need to provide them with all the assistance we can to help them grow and prosper.
Iqbal went on to say that there are many Asian manufacturing businesses out there who are not aware of the level or, extent of support available for them which could help them develop and grow their business.
“The funding is there, they need to make sure they access it”.
If you want to learn more about how your company could benefit please call Iqbal Bhana on 07831 391 814 or by email @ ibhana@ntlworld.com
For more information about how the LEP can support businesses across Leeds City Region, please call the LEP growth service on 0113 348 1818 or email businessgrowt
