Member Article

Worksop firm behind Wimbledon in £2 million expansion creating 60 jobs

Worksop-based LION Trackhire, which supplied the infrastructure for the 2012 Olympics and Wimbledon, is set to create 60 jobs with a £2 million expansion plan.

The firm won two grants from the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), to support an expansion costing more than £2 million.

The grants, totalling more than £400k, have enabled LION to service increased demand across Europe, particularly in Germany.

LION Trackhire creates temporary access solutions for construction projects and outdoor events, allowing access of pedestrians and vehicles over normally impassable terrain.

Gordon McKay, general manager of LION, said: “We were established in 2009, however our founders are the pioneers who created the industry back in the 1960s, so we aren’t short of expertise.

“Our engineers have solved the impossible, from moving whole buildings in one piece to the world’s heaviest cranes, so it isn’t surprising that demand for our services sometimes outstrips our resource. This grant will help us expand further to meet those demands.

“We have won many prestigious contracts, providing trackway for the Olympics, major infrastructure contracts with the National Grid, Wimbledon and a number of major outdoor festivals. We are winning new businesses almost on a daily basis.”

LION Trackhire’s expansion plans involve initially focusing upon renewable energy installations in Germany, having increased turnover in the last four years to over £16 million. They intend to double this within the next three years.

Councillor Simon Greaves, Leader of Bassetlaw District Council, said: “Bassetlaw is home to some truly world-class businesses and it is inspiring to see Lion Trackhire expand their business on a global scale.

“This is another example of Bassetlaw being a fantastic place to invest in and grow business.

“I hope Lion Trackhire’s success will spur on more businesses and entrepreneurs to apply to the Sheffield City Region’s Regional Growth Fund and, as Bassetlaw’s representative on the Local Enterprise Partnership, I will work hard to ensure that Bassetlaw’s businesses are given the best opportunity to expand and prosper.”

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