The UK operation of a German manufacturing firm specialising in galvanised steel, stainless steel, aluminium and PVCu products for the construction industry has moved in to a fourth industrial unit on the Hoo Farm Industrial Estate in Kidderminster. The move will safeguard over 90 local jobs and allow the firm to plan for continued growth over the coming five to ten years. Legal aspects of the lease were handled by Andy Ward of FBC Manby Bowdler’s Commercial Property team.
Protektor UK Group was originally founded in Kidderminster in the 1970s and in recent years has enjoyed sustained growth. It offers an unrivalled range of products to the UK finishing industry and over the past ten years, the firm has doubled its turnover beyond £10m.
During this period, it has also expanded into a further two units on the Hoo Farm estate, but earlier this year it became apparent that a further unit was required to sustain both current and projected growth. Peter Broadfield, UK MD, comments:
“To have enjoyed sustained growth is a satisfying position to be in, but we were conscious of the importance of identifying a fourth unit in close proximity to our existing facilities, in order to keep the overall operation as a cohesive whole.
“Without this we may have needed to consider a relocation elsewhere which would have been both disruptive and hugely expensive.”
Peter and the Protektor UK Group team appointed Richard Tomlinson of property consultants Fisher German to identify a suitable site and when the Plumbase outlet opposite one of Protektor UK Group’s existing units became available, it proved to be the ideal solution as Peter explains:
“Our new site is on three acres which will provide ample space as we continue to grow our UK business. The fact that it is near to our existing units is a plus for us, but also for the wider area as adding to the manufacturing strength of the Hoo Farm estate will support the future of manufacturing jobs in the Kidderminster area”.
Andy Ward of FBC Manby Bowdler’s Commercial Property team oversaw the legal aspects of the lease and having worked with Peter and the team previously, was only too aware of the difference securing this additional facility would make to them. He comments:
“It’s been a pleasure to witness the sustained growth that Protektor UK Group has secured in recent years, but to maintain this and open up opportunities for further growth, it became increasingly clear that more space was needed.
Acquiring the lease on this fourth unit has provided Peter and the team with additional office and warehousing space that can be used immediately. This will sustain both their current requirements and potential growth, but importantly it safeguards the existing 90 jobs that they’ve created in Kidderminster over the past few decades”.
Peter concludes by commenting on the difference that working with trusted partners makes in a move like this:
“Although we work closely with our German owners who provide a huge amount of support, we’re mindful of the differences that exist in the way that we each operate. So having the reassurance that we can rely on key partners such as Lloyds Bank who support with our financing, Fisher German who had their ear to the ground and secured this unit for us, or indeed Andy and the team at FBC Manby Bowdler who offered timely input in finalising this lease, these kind of relationships are invaluable to us”.