The expansion of Newtown firm Zip-Clip will be good news for the whole Severn Valley area, it’s managing director has today told MyNewtown.
Yesterday we reported how Zip-Clip is undertaking a significant expansion, creating up to at least 18 new jobs over the next couple of years.
And while the business is having to move from its current Newtown site to a new, bespoke unit due to be built in Welshpool, managing director, Steve Goldsworthy, said the company would still be making a positive difference in Newtown from where it had started.
“This is great news for us and the Severn Valley as a whole. We’re growing globally and since we established the business in 2004 we have grown significantly in Newtown,” he said.
“We’ve jumped from four to over 30 loyal staff and we will be taking them with us to the new facility, providing a bus services between the towns, so there’s no impact on our team here.”
He added that ideally the business would have wanted to have remained in Newtown, but there is no land or business units of the size required for the expansion, stressing that the Newtown staff would be provided with transport once the expansion takes place.
“We have worked closely with the Welsh Government and the only solution has been a new build at the Offa’s Dyke Business Park in Welshpool,” he said.
“The new facility, which is subject to planning permission, will provide us with the space for the expansion and growth we are undertaking now and over the next five years.
“This is all good for the Severn Valley and surrounding communities and we believe it will also act as a catalyst for other investment and expansion in the area.”
The Mid Wales Manufacturing Group is currently undertaking work to look at land availability and premises for businesses in the Severn Valley for the Welsh Government.
There has been concern in the area about the lack of suitable premises for businesses wanting to expand, particularly in Newtown where there is limited land to build on and only small business units which are not suitable for larger companies.
Zip-Clip, which is currently based in a 7,500 sq. ft. unit on Dyffryn Industrial Estate, Newtown, operates in a niche market manufacturing innovative suspension systems for all building services.
The company was launched in 2004 and now exports to 22 countries with forecast sales set to double in volume and value by 2017.
A planning application has been lodged with Powys County Council to build the new 17,500 sq. ft. manufacturing plant – which includes 2,500sq.ft of offices - on a 1.75 acre site owned by the Welsh Government at the entrance to Offa’s Dyke Business Park.
The Welsh Government plans to lease the new factory to Zip Clip which is unable to expand its existing premises and has not been able to identify premises of the required quality and size in the area.
