Member Article

2014 Ryder Cup golf buggy supplier secures £500k Yorkshire Bank funding

A West Yorkshire equipment hire business MTS Nationwide Ltd is extending its hire fleet and opening its first Scottish base after receiving a £500,000 funding package from Yorkshire Bank.

The business, which will supply more than 300 golf buggies to this year’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, is expanding to Scotland with a new depot in Cumbernauld.

MTS Golf & Utilities is opening the facility in late spring following an expansion of its Northern England partnership with Club Car, the world’s largest manufacturer of small wheel, zero emissions electric vehicles and official supplier to the 2014 Ryder Cup.

As part of its Scotland remit with Club Car, MTS Golf & Utilities will deliver more than 300 Club Car golf vehicles to the tournament at Gleneagles, and provide same-day support throughout the event.

The deal was arranged by Pete Sumners, business development manager at the Bank’s Business and Private Banking Centre in Leeds.

Founded 30 years ago, MTS Nationwide, which trades as MTS Group, operates depots in Yorkshire, Lancashire and County Durham and employs 42 staff.

The £6 million turnover business, a new customer to Yorkshire Bank, incorporates three divisions: MTS Welding Hire and Sales, MTS Golf and Utility Vehicles and MTS Plant Hire and Sales, which is the North of England’s leading Bobcat dealership and largest hirer of skidsteer and tracked loaders.

A substantial proportion of the funding provided by Yorkshire Bank will be used to boost MTS Plant Hire and Sales’ hire fleet.

The firm has ordered three new Thwaites dump trucks after seeing demand outstrip supply, with the company forced to turn down customers in some instances, or cross-hire.

The expansion is expected to support four new jobs initially, with scope for the creation of further employment as business grows. The group is also considering moving other hire equipment to Scotland to build on its golf base.

Peter Watson, managing director of MTS Group, said: “With the forthcoming Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, and Club Car’s long association with the event, it is particularly timely to be expanding our business in Scotland. We are also keen to grow our services across the group.

“We are grateful to Yorkshire Bank for supporting our growth ambitions, and look forward to developing the business in partnership with its experienced and knowledgeable team.”

Pete Sumners, business development manager at Yorkshire Bank’s Business and Private Banking Centre in Leeds, said: “Peter and the team at MTS have shown great commitment and determination to build this successful business, and their expansion plans, including the creation of new jobs, highlight the crucial role businesses are playing in supporting the economic recovery.

“Business confidence is beginning to grow and it is extremely rewarding to know that we can play a part in supporting the aspirations of ambitious and innovative firms like MTS.”

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