Member Article

Redcar firm to grow workforce following Royal baby business boom

A Redcar firm that has recently capitalised on Royal baby fever is set to grow its workforce as it wins business over international competitors.

Class Fundraising Ltd produces personalised items such as tea towels, t-shirts and mugs, and the firm was recently contacted with an urgent order for 15,000 Royal baby tea towels from West Sussex-based supplier, Milly Green Design Ltd.

Co-founder Mark Simpson said: “It was really urgent and our whole team just went into overdrive and did a marvellous job completing that order and keeping everything running smoothly for all our other customers at the same time. Initially we supplied 2,000 tea towels but demand has seen orders grow to more than 15,000.

“The tea towel is a lovely design featuring a rocking horse, pram, stork, teddy bear and bunting. It’s in full colour so the fact that we had just invested nearly £50,000 in a second full-colour printer, extra workshop and staff training could not have been better timed.”

Class Fundraising was set up by Simon Fulton and Mark, and has just moved into a third workshop at UK Steel Enterprise’s Innovation Centre on Kirkleatham Business Park.

The business currently employs seven, but say they will expand to around 20 from October to prepare for the Christmas season.

In 2011 the company was forced to leave its existing premises at six hours notice, and UK Steel Enterprise found the firm a workshop.

Mark explained: “It seemed like a real blow at the time but being here has been the best thing that could have happened as we have expanded three times now. UK Steel Enterprise and the other tenants have done everything possible, including re-jigging space, to give us this third workshop and we are very grateful.”

Peter Taylor, Regional Executive for UK Steel Enterprise, the Tata Steel business support subsidiary, said: “Class Fundraising just keeps growing and thoroughly deserves its success. The company pulls out all the stops to look after its customers and we aim to do the same for the tenants in our two Innovation Centres. Our aim is to support them so that they can concentrate all their efforts on growing their businesses.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .