A rapidly-growing Warwick company is set to move into its third premises in just over 12 months to meet demand for its automotive services in the UK and overseas.
Sino International Products provides engineering and product design, prototypes and product development and supplies products from its bases in Warwick and Shanghai in China.
The company, which was established by Rob Coles and Antony Ward in January 2013 from a small office in Budbrooke, aims to reach £3.5 million turnover in 2015.
The firm works closely with automotive giants Jaguar Land Rover in Gaydon and Shanghai as well as BMW and Aston Martin and supply products as a Tier 1 supplier to customers in Croatia, Slovakia and Germany.
The business has also signed exclusive agreements with companies in Holland and Portugal to sell their products and services to the UK market.
After moving to 1,500 sq ft premises in Benford Court, Lower Cape, Rob was approached by the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub to explain the services on offer to businesses in all sectors in the area.
Growth Hub account manager Carolyn Reily put Rob in touch with Warwickshire County Council’s Inward Investment Team who sourced a new unit at nearby St George’s Business Park for Sino International Products.
Carolyn also set-up meetings for the company with the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) to achieve the quality management ISO 9001 accreditation and UKTI to consider exporting to new markets.
Rob, European Operations Director at Sino International Products, said they needed to move again to accommodate their growth.
“Long-term we plan to increase our turnover to £15 million by 2020 – it is our intention to grow quickly because although we’re a small business, we approach business with a big company mentality and we have put the building blocks in place to work towards rapid growth,” he said.
“When we’re dealing with BMW, Aston Martin or Jaguar Land Rover we talk the same language and that gives them confidence that we’re a safe pair of hands.
“Strictly speaking, at the stage we are at as a business we shouldn’t have the clients that we have but we run the business with the processes which give our customers confidence.
“That is why it is important to achieve ISO 9001 accreditation. I thought it would be complicated to apply for business support and quite bureaucratic but it has been great having the Growth Hub as a central point of contact to look at our business, understand our needs and give advice on the support we can access.
“We have talked to MAS about ISO 9001 accreditation and other accreditations because we want to have a more balanced business and diversify since it is healthier to be in various sectors.”
Craig Humphrey, Managing Director of the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, said Rob and Anthony had decided to use their specialist knowledge and contacts with major automotive companies to set-up their own business.
“Sino International Products has certainly had an incredible start and the support and information the Growth Hub has provided will support the company to reach its business goals,” he said.
“The Growth Hub is here to help businesses however large or small to access the advice and financial support which is available to help them in many ways whether it is information on exporting or filling out grant application forms.”
