Clearview National February 2016 - Issue 171 | Page 6

INDUSTRYNEWS Investment set to boost jobs ‘up North’ BLACKBURN building products firm GAP has announced a £10million investment project creating 200 new jobs in the town. »»The expansion and new factory on Shadsworth Business Park was hailed as a major boost to East Lancashire by local Chamber of Commerce executive Mike Damms. The fast-growing company, founded in Accrington in 1993, hopes to start work early this year on a 130,000 sq ft state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. It will be close to its existing corporate offices, trade depot and door and window factories. It aims to double its existing 200-strong workforce at the site on Partnership Way as it extends its nationwide network of 40 depots to 100 branches by the end of 2017. The announcement of the new window production line has been praised by East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce chief executive Mr Damms, Blackburn MP Kate Hollern and borough regeneration boss Phil Riley. GAP Ltd, founded by Charles Greensmith and Simon Bird, moved to Shadsworth in 1995 with a few dozen workers and now, subject to planning approval by Blackburn with Darwen Council, hopes to have 400 there within two years. Mr Greensmith said: “We’re very excited to be able to support the local job market and are delighted to be able to continue investing in the personal and professional growth of our 200 existing Blackburn staff. “We expect to double the size of the workforce when the new facility comes on stream.” 6 » F EB 2016 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M The £65million-a-year turnover firm, employing 560 staff nationwide, is one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of PVCu building products including the Rockdoor, Homeline and Homeframe brands. Some 10,000 of its doors are in homes, many social housing, across Blackburn. Mr Damms said: “This is tremendous news for an excellent company, Blackburn and the whole of East Lancashire. “It is the perfect New Year gift offering high-quality, manufacturing jobs to the area. “This investment will be a great start to the New Year for East Lancashire business and is a sign of growing confidence and activity. I am delighted.” Cllr Riley said: “This is great news. It is a great result for local people offering proper manufacturing jobs and another sign of businesses’ growing confidence in Blackburn with Darwen and its regeneration plans.” Mrs Hollern said: “I am delighted. It is another endorsement of the good work that is being carried out locally to ensure that Blackburn’s economy grows and the town continues to be attractive to employers. “GAP should also be congratulated for the confidence and commitment they have shown in Blackburn. Let’s hope that this year sees more good news such as this.” Blackburn Borough council Tory group leader Mike Lee said: “This is fantastic news. In 2007 then Blackburn MP Jack Straw opened the firm’s existing 47000 sq ft central warehouse on Shadsworth Business Park. The 130,000 sq ft new building will be next door, creating a huge development. Mr Straw said: “This is fantastic news and a tribute to this locallygrown and fast expanding company.” The new factory is said to be the most advanced PVCu window and door manufacturing plant in the UK and underlines GAP’s long-term commitment to supporting the local economy and workforce. A privately-owned business, GAP already operates a network of 40 trade counters across the UK ranging from Aberdeen to Enfield. It plans to expand with a further 24 depots by the end of this year and aims to have 100 by the end of 2017. GAP opened its latest depot in Oldham in January. GAP Oldham, which is managed by Gary Wood and his team, is a large depot which will service existing and new customers in and around the Oldham area with an extensive range of PVCu building products such as Homeline fascias and soffits, FloPlast guttering, soudal silicone and sealants and Klober dry verge. The Oldham Depot also features a Rockdoor display as well as Origin bifolds and Homeframe window displays. Customers can also call in and collect Firestone rubber cover cut to size, or check out the new liquid flat roofing system called Desmopol. www.gap.uk.com