GlassHUS creates jobs and invests in factory after contract wins

A fast-growing Sunderland firm has moved into new premises, which allows them to manufacture bespoke facades for the construction sector, following an upsurge of new contract wins.

glassHUS designs and now produces architectural glass, aluminium facades and curtain walling for commercial clients and bespoke private developments.

Initially starting out as a design company in 2009, the business began fabricating its own products earlier this year after securing a strong order book, one of which being a £300,000-plus contract from Robertson Construction to create a new facade for part of South Tyneside College. This is the second phase of the project with which the company has been involved.

The robust order book offered glassHUS the opportunity to expand the business, and the team moved from Sunderland’s Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) to its new design and manufacturing facility at the Rivergreen Industry Centre. It has invested almost £50,000 in purchasing new machinery and increased its workforce to 10 as a result of the move.

glassHUS managing director Simon Tuckwell said: “We used to get the product outsourced by an accredited fabricator, however due to the upturn in the order book we felt it was a good opportunity to expand and become more competitive but also to maintain our high quality standards.

“We contacted Neil Clasper at Sunderland City Council’s business investment team. He recommended that we look at Rivergreen, and given local transport links and its proximity to the A19 we felt Rivergreen was suitable.

“Since we began to manufacture rather than subcontract, staff numbers have more than doubled. Our sector has been buoyant since April and the signs are that this will continue. We will review again next year to see whether we need to increase staff numbers. We are a company that wishes to continuously improve its product and services.”

It’s the second time Sunderland City Council has supported glassHUS’s growth. When the company initially moved into the BIC from its first furnished office space, the City Council provided support and advice.

glassHUS is currently working on a project at the City Council’s Turbine Business Park for GMI Construction, as well as carrying out contracts at a retail park in Cramlington via the RG Group and for Esh Property Services in York, plus further contracts for a science park and motor dealership contracts in Cumbria. It has also been successful in securing a second contract with GMI Construction on a new store in Harrogate.

Councillor Harry Trueman, Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “glassHUS is a fantastic example of a growing local business which is selling bespoke Sunderland-designed and manufactured products across the UK.

“The company has grown quickly despite starting out in the midst of recession in 2009 and has ambitious plans for further expansion. We were happy to help glassHUS with its new premises and I’d urge any other businesses seeking new space to expand to consider Sunderland as a base. The city is centrally located with good transport links, and we offer advice and support which can make all the difference to growing businesses.”

glassHUS is one of only a handful of architectural aluminium manufacturing firms remaining in the North East and it works all over the UK. The design and manufacture are carried out in Sunderland and the company uses a trusted installation team for each project. glassHUS is also continuing to secure design-only work in addition to its manufacture and installation services, where it has carried out the design on some major London construction schemes.

Simon Tuckwell added: “We’re always aiming for and benefitting from repeat work, based on the quality of our design, products and installation. Our fabricated product is labour intensive but we have quality people who all share the company’s vision, to be the best we can in our business sector, from estimating, through design, fabrication and installation.”

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