Reroot money means big expansion for Shelton firm
19 July 2010
A Shelton building company has trebled its number of employees - including new apprentcies - thanks to a grant from Reroot. And further expansion is likely with orders coming from Europe.
Reroot is funded by RENEW to help businesses take advantage of regeneration in the city. Grants from Reroot enable businesses affected by the regeneration to relocate to more suitable, better equipped, premises. As well as a grant, Reroot provides free business support and advice.
One company that has benefited hugely from Reroot is The Smart Timber Frame Company which began as a father-and-son enterprise run by Colin Oakley and son Graham. Based at Garner Street, Eturia, the company faced a forced contraction when their landlord wanted to reduce the space they rented from him.
Commented Colin: “We were in negotiation with several companies for work but the factory just wasn’t big enough to cater for the new work. Our landlord was making all his units 5,000 square feet or less because the government brought in a tax on units over 5,000 that were left empty. So he didn’t want any units above 5,000 square feet. But we needed a lot more space to cope with a potentially bulging order book.”
The company now manufactures timber frames, houses and buildings from new premises at Fireclay Works, Shelton New Road. It builds them on site then ships them out to wherever they are required including, it is hoped, the European market. Without a grant from Reroot, this expansion may never have occurred.
“No business wants to turn work away but that’s very nearly what happened with us,” added Colin. “Without a Reroot grant, we just wouldn’t have been able to expand. They gave us money to enable us to relocate to our premises in Shelton where we can move into and rent new units as and when needed. And we hope to be employing more staff soon. We invest in new people training them up from scratch.”
The company has patented a new folding tiled roof that is ready to leave the factory and be fitted wherever required. This roof is to represent the UK in the bid for sustainability in Europe. The Smart Timber Frame Company has also pioneered a healthcare disabled unit, a four-star bedroom complete with en-suite, that locks onto the back of house. “We just build it in the factory then crane it out,” explained Colin.
The firm has won two awards for its timber frame systems and is a shortlisted finalist for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Innovation Award, due to take place in London on October 15th. The Institute said this about the company in its brochure: “The development (the most advanced timber frame building system in Europe) is truly remarkable.”
