West Midlands law firm FBC Manby Bowdler LLP has advised on a major expansion at a Wolverhampton company which is a leading supplier of science equipment and chemicals to schools and commercial laboratories throughout the UK.
Andrew Wynne, a partner in the Wolverhampton Commercial Property Department at FBC Manby Bowdler, has advised Bilston-based Scientific and Chemical Supplies Limited (SciChem) on a 20% increase in its storage facilities, with the lease of a new 8,400 sq ft warehouse unit, to help it cope with growing international demand for its products which are now exported to 166 countries.
The lease of Unit 5 at Chestom Road, Bilston, Wolverhampton, boosts SciChem’s warehouse facilities to more than 50,000 sq ft for the wide range of laboratory equipment, laboratory chemicals and science education equipment, which it supplies to primary, secondary and tertiary education and industrial and commercial laboratories worldwide.
The company employs some 80 people at its Bilston headquarters and a further 20 at its branches in Scotland and in the Republic of Ireland. With its £20 million annual turnover set to grow by 10% per annum, based on its increasing export success and on continued success in local markets, new jobs will be regularly created at the company.
SciChem Chairman John Turton said: “We are winning increasingly large export orders, particularly in the Far East, hence the need for this major expansion in warehousing facilities provided by the new lease on another unit in Chestom Road. As we continue to win new orders and grow in size, so our headcount will also continue to rise.
“As the number one supplier of science equipment and chemicals to UK schools for many years, it is gratifying to know that Black Country schoolchildren will continue to use our products in their science lessons, while also enabling us to take advantage of a growing export market.”
SciChem is a Black Country family firm, still run and jointly owned by the sons of the men who founded the company in 1957, pharmacist Mr JR Turton, and Second World War fighter pilot Mr KH Cartland. The company started life in Sedgley, supplying a large number of foundries, metal finishing companies, and the automotive industry, and in 1988 it moved to Bilston.
FBC Manby Bowdler has advised SciChem since its inception. Mr Turton said: “Andrew and the team at FBC Manby Bowdler have been very thorough. They have ensured that we achieved exactly what we wanted with this new lease.”
Mr Wynne said: “SciChem is a shining example of Black Country success story which is just quietly getting on with tremendous growth. It is a strong family firm, which remains entrepreneurial and has been able to take advantage quickly and effectively of new markets.”
With 35 partners, FBC Manby Bowdler is one of the largest law firms in the West Midlands. In addition to Wolverhampton, the firm has offices in Willenhall, Telford, Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth.