A GBP 200,000 restructuring supported by second-round funding from UK Steel Enterprise is set to launch another period of growth for JR Gilbert, following a management buy-in two years ago.
Since the buy-in, the engineering firm in Llanbradach near Caerphilly has seen sales take off, and is aiming to break the GBP 1M-turnover barrier next year. At the same time, the business will see staff levels double to 10 to cope with the strengthening order book. The new management team of Colin Beavis and Nick Robbins reorganised the business and launched a vigorous marketing campaign around the UK, building on JR Gilbert’s reputation for quality and service.
The financial package is underpinned by second-round loan funding of GBP 70,000 by Tata-subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise, debt facilities from RBS, as well as a Welsh Government grant. The investment will be used to continue to expand the range of work the company can take on with new machinery such as the 2.5m Correa CNC milling machine and the 3m Viking lathe, recently added. The building has been refurbished and reorganised and a works manager will soon be appointed to oversee the shop floor, freeing management time. A fabrication facility has been also added, again to widen the scope of work that can be undertaken.
