Leeds engineering firm creates ten new jobs following £1.5m investment

Leeds Welding Company (LWC) Ltd, the laser cutting and metal fabrication business, is set on becoming a £15m turnover business by 2020 after investing over £1.5m at its manufacturing facility in Hunslet.

LWC has invested in new machinery, fully automated fibre optic laser cutting machines, robotic welding equipment, cranes and brake presses, and in upskilling the it’s 110-strong workforce.

is investing in future growth, with support from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Leeds City Council.

The investment, backed by a £100k grant through the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP)’s Growth Service, will create 10 new jobs.

The company is also working on projects with UTC Leeds, the city’s manufacturing and engineering school for 14-18 year olds, and has sponsored its ‘Student of the Year’ award.

Richard Eaglen, managing director of LWC, said: “We’ve invested in people and systems as well as plant and machinery. It’s not just a case of bringing in bigger and more efficient machines.

“The investment is part of a wider plan to overhaul the operation here and make a step change to become a different kind of business.”

A full-scale reorganisation of the 33,000 sq ft manufacturing plant at Westland Square is currently underway, guided by new production director Ian Verity.

Eaglen added: “We’ve made a big investment in upskilling the workforce to make sure they are qualified to recognised standards. We’ve brought in a product development engineer and put our engineering design and accounts teams through industry training programmes.”

The LEP Growth Service supports businesses across Leeds City Region and is delivered in Leeds in partnership with Leeds City Council and Leeds Beckett University.

Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council and chair of the LEP Investment Panel, said: “Manufacturing is a key sector of the Leeds economy, with some 1,800 firms and a combined workforce of around 26,000, making Leeds one of the largest manufacturing centres in the UK.

“The sector offers fantastic career opportunities for young people and it’s great to see LWC investing in its workforce, in apprenticeships and in building a strong relationship with the team at UTC Leeds to bring the next generation into the industry.”

The support from the LEP and the council will also help LWC break into new markets, improving its productivity and profitability. Eaglen explained: “The core business is in sub-contract manufacture for commercial vehicles, mechanical handling and construction sectors.

“You need capacity – hence the investment in increasing our production capability – but you also need the credentials to become part of the supply chain to these industries. Ultimately the aim is to become a £10-£50m turnover business, rather than a £2-£10m business, and to do that we need to operate in a very different way.”

In addition to the core business, LWC manufactures niche products, including passenger guidance systems for airlines. It recently developed a range of new products aimed at the agricultural sector – bail spikes, handler buckets and hydraulic brushes used for cleaning roads –which were launched last month at the Yorkshire Agricultural Machinery Show.

Roger Marsh, OBE, chair of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, concluded:“Supporting innovative, growing businesses is at the heart of the LEP’s work to build a strong and successful economy, built on productive businesses and skilled employees.

“I’m delighted to see that Leeds Welding Company are investing for growth, creating jobs and upskilling their workforce.”

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →