Member Article

Racking firm expands into £600k new premises with help of Enterprising Barnsley

A Barnsley company that repairs the giant shelving used by companies including Asda, DHL and B&Q is expanding into a new £600,000 building.

The purchase of the 20,000 sq ft site has been part-funded by a grant from the Business Growth Programme, secured with help from Enterprising Barnsley and managed by Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership.

The Rack Group is taking over a nearby building on the Carlton Industrial Estate to house its research and development department and for two new ventures.

Enterprising Barnsley is a business support programme, which is delivered by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and supports businesses with growth potential.

Jenny Charlton, Rack Group director, said: “These are really exciting times for us. We have seen our exports of Rack Armour more than double in the last three years, with export now counting for 90 per cent of sales.

“We are exporting into Europe and the Americas, with an eye on India and Brazil. Rack End Barriers should be as popular as Rack Armour as they too will save money for warehouse operators by reducing the number of repairs and replacement of racking.”

The Rack Group, whose clients also include Sainsburys, Premier Foods, Marks & Spencer and Heinz, has taken on four more staff, taking the total to 37, with a view to taking on more. The company also offers training in racking through its subsidiary Rack Training.

Angela Pedley, of Enterprising Barnsley, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to help the expansion of this company, which is growing all the time.”

“Their innovation and drive is typical of successful businesses in Barnsley and just shows what can be achieved with a bit of support.”

Enterprising Barnsley 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 Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .