Member Article

Colne-based Print business takes rapid growth in its stride

East Lancashire printing services firm Text Styles UK is generating powerful growth, while keeping profitability on track, thanks to Boost Business Lancashire’s Growth Mentoring programme.

The family-run business is also working with Nelson & Colne College to recruit two more apprentices in addition to its seven-strong workforce, which already includes two apprentices.

Colne-based Text Styles UK started life in the garage of Barry Jordan, father of current managing director Tom Jordan.

Since then the business has grown significantly and now offers a comprehensive range of printing services for the business and consumer markets.

Text Styles UK specialises in printing logos, designs, photos and images on products ranging from signs and vehicle graphics, to branded work wear and promotional gifts.

Boost Business Lancashire is the £7.2 million Lancashire Business Growth Hub, offering free and part-funded business support to ambitious and growing businesses.

Delivered by Lancashire County Council and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, and supported by £3.6 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), it aims to grow Lancashire’s economy by £20 million and create at least 1,200 new jobs and safeguard 700 more by 2015.

Tom said: “We needed support in planning future growth. The business had increased turnover by 34 per cent during the last financial year, and with help from my growth mentor, Kathryn Gilliam, we have been able to increase capacity while keeping profit margins on track.

“Kathryn helped us to develop plans to handle increased sales, increase profitability, improve product development and maintain control of the business while undergoing expansion.”

“As a result we have implemented planned expansion through a thorough understanding of the market, introduced a production planning strategy and safeguarded margins and profitability.”

“We enjoyed every aspect of the Boost experience. Listening to our mentor giving us independent views on our business has been extremely refreshing.

“This advice and support has given us extra confidence to push on with our ambitious plans and we have created numerous process flow charts, plus a growth orbit that has immediately improved our order procedure.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .