A forward-thinking manufacturing company in Coventry is already planning to expand after completing a refurbishment thanks to European funding.
ActOn Finishing in Torrington Avenue, which provides machine manufacturing and consumables for mass metal finishing, has seen its turnover grow in the last three years.
The company also designs, develops and manufactures high energy barrel machines and provides sub-contracting services for the aerospace and medical industries.
ActOn Finishing received a £10,000 grant from the European Regional Development Fund Small Capital Grants programme thanks to support from the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub and Coventry City Council.
The funding has led to the creation of two extra offices for sales and engineering staff and the transformation of a conference room into a boardroom as well as the recruitment of Adriana Crisbasan through the Skills 4 Growth Graduate Employment Scheme.
Sandeep Gulati, who has run and owned the business with his wife, Shalia, since 2003, said they had wanted to refurbish their premises to create a more professional image when meeting clients as well as increasing their office space.
“We have grown from eight to 38 staff over the last ten years as our client base has increased not just in the UK but throughout the world,” he said.
“We export to countries throughout Europe including Sweden, Netherlands and France as well as America, Israel, India and Australia.
“A business associate recommended the Growth Hub and account manager Rachael Delich was really helpful in helping us to apply for funding.
“We wanted to update our premises and it is great that organisations like the Growth Hub have been set-up to help SMEs like ourselves and that the funding support is forthcoming.
“Trying to get grants used to be a really difficult process but now it is much more simple and the response to the refurbishment from our customers is that they are pleased with our new look and feel of the place, and we are really pleased too.
“It has brought value to the business because it is a more practical space and as well as hosting meetings, we have held training sessions.
“Receiving funding to employ a graduate was also really useful and the whole funding application has been really smooth.
“We have plans for expansion because of our growth because we would like to create additional manufacturing and storage areas within this site.”
The Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, which provides support and advice for businesses, was formed by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership as part of its City Deal bid to Government.
Partners involved include the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, UKTI, Local Authorities across the sub-region, Coventry University, the University of Warwick and MAS (Manufacturing Advisory Service now part of the Business Growth Service).
Craig Humphrey, managing director of the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, said the Growth Hub was designed to help companies of all sizes access funding support.
“ActOn Finishing is growing year-on-year and as they have found out, our account managers make the process as easy as possible whether businesses are wanting to refurbish their premises, buy capital equipment or recruit graduates or apprentices,” he said.
“The Growth Hub is here to help whatever sector a business is in and we are continuing to assist ActOn Finishing with their future expansion plans.”