NEWS
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
Trinity Kitchens cooks up growth plans with investment backing
A
Newton Aycliffe cabinet manufacturer has marked its 20th anniversary by substantially increasing its manufacturing capacity with the help of a five-figure investment .
Trinity Kitchens is a leading manufacturer of high-quality cabinets for kitchens , bedrooms and bathrooms , which are supplied to tradesmen and retailers right across the North-East and Yorkshire .
In 2019 , the business moved into a new 14,700 sq ft manufacturing facility on the Aycliffe Business Park to help meet growing client demand .
And now , after working with regional fund management firm NEL Fund Managers to bring in the investment from the North East Small Loan Fund Supported by The European Regional Development Fund , it has taken on
Trinity Kitchens co-founder Leanne Fisk with Mike Guellard , senior investment executive at NEL Fund Managers .
a further 4,750 sq ft of manufacturing space right across the road .
The extra space is facilitating Trinity ’ s move into manufacturing and painting its own timber and MDF cabinet doors , with the investment supporting both the preparation of the new premises and the purchase of the equipment and fittings required to carry out the work .
Two new jobs have already been created as part of the expansion , taking the total workforce up to 26 , and a further three are expected to follow as production increases .
Established in 2004 , Trinity Kitchens was set up by husband-and-wife team Matthew and Leanne Fisk in a small trading unit
with just two pieces of equipment , and now occupies more than six times that original space .
Leanne Fisk said : “ We ’ ve achieved sustained growth over the last few years , in terms of both revenue and staff numbers , and we identified scaling up our manufacturing by incorporating cabinet door manufacture and finishing processes as the next stage of our development .
“ Having the extra space we needed right on the doorstep was very convenient , but adapting it into the type of facility that could be used for this purpose required a substantial amount of specialist factory fittings and equipment .”
NEW CEO PLEDGES TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AT SWDT
South West Durham Training ’ s new CEO Shaun Hope will be hitting the ground running as he spreads the word about exciting future plans to the engineering and manufacturing sector .
Shaun has joined SWDT from Hartlepool College of Further Education , where he was vice principal of curriculum and standards .
During his 16 years at HCFE he has held a number of leadership roles , having overseen the growth of the engineering curriculum , the introduction of T levels and the development of new specialist facilities .
He is aware he has big boots to fill – former principal and CEO Natalie Davison- Terranova recently left Bishop Auckland College Group after 15 years to join Barking and Dagenham College in London as principal and CEO .
Shaun said : “ I ’ m so proud to be taking up
Shaun Hope ( right ) and Jonathan Hall at South West Durham Training on Aycliffe Business Park .
the role of PCEO of the Bishop Auckland College Group and one of the most appealing factors of the role is the exciting opportunity at South West Durham Training .
“ SWDT is a beacon of high-quality engineering training , with a rich history across our region . Many of the area ’ s leading names in engineering and manufacturing came through those doors at SWDT .”
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 5