Businesses at a Leamington industrial estate have grouped together to help encourage business development and networking in the area.
Accountants and financial advisors Harrison Beale & Owen (HB&O) have launched a business action group for companies based at the Sydenham Industrial Estate in Leamington.
The interactive group, hosted on Facebook, aims to provide a platform for businesses to network with fellow professionals, promote services and products, as well as participate in discussions and arrange free referrals.
Mark Ashfield, director at HB&O which also has an office in Coventry, hopes the group will help businesses to expand and develop at the site.
“There are a wide-variety of businesses situated at the estate from companies that specialise in engineering and manufacturing to firms across the leisure and creative sectors,” he said.
“The Facebook business group provides a convenient platform for business professionals to interact with each other and not only profile their expertise but also showcase any events they believe may be of interest to others on the estate.
“We felt it was the right time to try to boost involvement within the local business community particularly as we have seen an increase in activity at the estate with a number of new businesses opening up as well as others looking to expand.”
The Sydenham Industrial estate was developed in 1962 to provide small factory space to accommodate an increase in growth within the lighting industry and provide job opportunities.
Around 55 small to medium-sized businesses are now based at the 50-acre site across a wide range of sectors including, finance, engineering, manufacturing, automotive, leisure and creative.
Twenty businesses have already signed up to the business group Facebook page, including kitchen and bathroom specialists Modern Homes and pneumatic tool manufacturer Trelawny Surface Preparation Technology.
Tina Riley, managing director at Modern Homes, said: “We have been based at the estate since 1982 and have seen the number of companies and services on offer at the site continue to diversify and grow.
“The business group is a great way for us to support each other, discuss any issues we may have and also strengthen our offering – you never know when your neighbours might come in handy.”
Steve Williams, general manager at Trelawny Surface Preparation Technology, said the creation of the business group has come as the firm expands at the site.
“We are in the process of expanding into additional premises on Longfield Road and the business group provides a platform for us to publicise this news and promote our services.
“Hopefully if enough companies get involved and express an interest in signing up to the business group it will allow us to arrange formal meetings and events to increase networking within the estate.”