Growth fund rewards innovative expansion plans

Companies from across North Staffordshire have been awarded a share of more than £700,000 to help them expand their businesses, explore new products and markets and take on new staff.

Grants of up to £187,500 have so far been approved, subject to contract, for seven firms from the area through the Innovative Growth in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire (IGISS) Fund, including five from Stoke-on-Trent.

Recipients include Fenton-based window frame manufacturer Lister Trade Frames, Hygan Sponges and chemical firm Keeling & Walker, both based in Stoke, and Burslem-based firms Titanic Brewery and UK Control Panels.

The fund is aimed at helping established local companies to deliver innovative ideas or processes that will enable them to take on more staff by the middle of next year.

Successful applicants can use the cash for a range of purposes, including experimental research, technical feasibility studies, specialist equipment, or even an extension of their premises to enable them to implement new services or product lines.

Mark Warren, managing director of Lister Trade Frames, said that the funding will be instrumental in enabling the Fenton firm to expand into new markets and products, creating 14 new jobs over the next three years.

He said: “We have noticed a growing customer demand for new, innovative products that are more design-conscious and energy efficient and we are keen to expand into this new market. The funding through IGISS will enable us to bring our plans forward and to carry out research and design work and purchase specialist new machinery.

“The city council has been very helpful in guiding us through the application process and I don’t think we could’ve done it without their help. There are a lot of great companies in North Staffordshire that have the potential to expand into new markets and initiatives like IGISS can really make a difference to them.”

For more information about the IGISS fund, contact Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s economic development team on 01782 231586 or email Angela.Kidney@stoke.gov.uk.