Barnsley manufacturer works round the clock to expand
5 August 2013
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Portwest has increased turnover 30 per cent to £75m in the last year, taken on 14 new staff and gone to a 24 hour operation at its Thurnscoe warehouse.
The company, which has strong ethical values, now employs 76 people and exports to 80 countries, including into parts of Africa, South America and the
The expansion of the company, which set up in 1904 in
Richard Jones, operations and marketing manager, said the plan was to double turnover in the next three years, take on many more staff and expand warehouse space. Staff at Thurnscoe are now able to process orders 24 hours a day from around the world via the website; soon a new paperless system in the warehouse will make the system even quicker.
“We have already gone through a massive expansion in a short space of time and with the lessons we have learned from that further expansion should be easier,” said Richard.
“Enterprising
Portwest supplies workwear ranging from chefs’ aprons and welders’ gloves to high-visibility jackets and over-trousers. They develop and manufacture their own fabrics, as well as using well-known brands such as Goretex.
The current brochure has 274 pages; the new one will have over 400, including 209 new products, particularly flame-resistant products for the oil and petrochemical industry.
The clothing is manufactured in the Far East, with the products finished at Thurnscoe, which is also home to the main warehousing and office hub. Research is carried out in Ireland.
All the factories are covered by strict guidelines, covering issues like hours of work, child labour and health and safety.
“We have strong ethical policies and apply European standards across all our manufacturing,” said Richard.
“We are also very conscious of environmental issues and adhere to rules around use of chemicals and have developed fabrics that can be washed at lower temperatures.”
Adrian Waite, from Enterprising Barnsley, said: “Portwest’s expansion so far has been very impressive and the future growth plans are built on a very solid base. When you grow a company rapidly you need the right foundations and that’s where expert advice really helps.”
The Enterprising Barnsley programme is a partnership between Barnsley Development Agency (BDA) and Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre.
It is supported financially by the European Union and has attracted £2,259,511 investment from the European Regional Development Fund as part of Europe’s support for the region’s economic development, through the
NOTE TO EDITORS
Attached picture shows Richard Jones in the Thurnscoe warehouse, which operates 24 hours a day.
Richard Jones can be contacted on 01709 894575 or at richard@portwest.co.uk
The Enterprising Barnsley programme is part financed by the
For more information about Enterprising Barnsley go to www.enterprisingbarnsley.co.uk or contact Martin Beasley on 01226 772648 or at martinbeasley@barnsley.gov.uk
Additional media contact: Kate Betts at kate@capitalbmedia.co.uk or on 01226 766900/ 077927 64891
