Member Article

Warwickshire manufacturer makes move after support

The only UK company to re-manufacture air conditioning compressors for the automotive industry has moved to larger premises in Warwick and taken on extra staff after receiving support from a national funding initiative.

Compressortech has made a £1.2 million move to the Budbrooke Industrial Estate in Budbrooke Road after receiving £148,000 from the government’s Growing Places scheme which was approved by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP).

The company, established 32 years ago, moved from its 7,500 sq ft premises in Bordesley Green to a new 11,500 sq ft unit which includes a workshop, research and design studio, warehouse, training centre and sales office.

Fourteen new jobs for a sales manager, production and purchasing manager, assemblers, research and design experts and warehouse staff have also been created by the Growing Places funding.

The firm has also received support and guidance from Helena Bassett and the experienced team at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.

Jim McClean, managing director of Compressortech, said the business has grown from four employees to 18 members of staff because of the government grant.

“We wanted to find suitable premises which were of the right size, had a great location and had plenty of parking which Budbrooke Industrial Estate has provided,” he said.

“All our suppliers and customers have found the move beneficial because logistics are key. The new facility will allow us to meet customers’ demands and requirements and invite additional customers to work with us long-term.

“The new single-site operation will continue to provide our customers with excellent levels of service and stock availability from a more agile operation. We also now have a multi-lingual product management and sales team which will greatly enhance our growth and expansion plans over the next five years.

“We are a manufacturer, re-manufacturer and supplier of air conditioning compressors for vehicle manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors which are sold through their world-wide distribution network.

“It has made us more flexible, more competitive and increased our range of products as well as developed our research and design.

“When we moved to Warwick, we contacted the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce to find out the kind of support available for SMEs.

“We would have struggled to fund the cost of the whole move without the Growing Places funding and although we would have done it, it would not have been as swift without the support we received.

“Realistically, it would probably have taken us another year to have re-located so we are extremely fortunate to have met the criteria to receive the assistance and funding.

“Being able to draw up a business plan with the Chamber’s help has meant we are now much more organised as a business and the business has moved forward.

“We submitted our business plan as part of the Growing Places application which was agreed by the CWLEP and it is great that support is there for small businesses.

“Normally, you associate grants with larger companies but the fact we have created jobs for 14 people is fantastic and we are grateful for the support.”

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, CWLEP board director and leader of Warwickshire County Council, said re-manufacturing automotive air conditioning compressors highlighted Compressortech’s green credentials.

“It is more environmentally-friendly and cost effective for Compressortech to produce the equivalent of new air conditioning compressors in appearance, quality and finish for its customers and the finished products are very impressive,” she said.

“Growing Places was set-up to provide grants to companies such as Compressortech to grow the economy and boost jobs which they have certainly achieved by more than quadrupling their workforce.”

Angela Tellyn, partnership manager at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said support from the Chamber and the CWLEP has helped the company move to Warwickshire.

She added: “Our team of business advisors are here to provide expert advice and information to companies however large or small – and that support includes help with grant applications which is exactly what we did with Jim and his team at Compressortech.

“Applying for grants can be daunting if you have never done it before but organisations such as the Chamber and the CWLEP can provide assistance when stepping into unknown territory.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .