Yorkwall Engineering (www.yorkwallengineering.com), which designs, manufactures and installs metal products at its Ellesmere Port facility, is expanding, assisted by a £40,000 loan from the Merseyside Special Investment Fund (MSIF) and a £60,000 loan from NatWest (as part of an overall £160,000 investment that should create 20 jobs during the next two years).

The company, which was established 17 years ago and bought by director Jonathan Willoughby last year, expects its current turnover of £500,000 to more than double next year.

Mr Willoughby said: “We have built up a strong customer base and believe that there are significant opportunities to grow the business.

“Current projects range from the refurbishment of plant components, flanges, shafts and bearing housings to making batches of small items for use in other non-plant equipment.

“The funding will be used to invest in marketing, new employees and equipment, enabling the business to enhance its offering to include a variety of machining, fabrication, welding, structural, mechanical engineering, laser cutting and site services.”

MSIF investment manager Sue Chambers said: “Yorkwall has a fantastic reputation in the market-place and a very experienced workforce. With Jonathan now at the helm, it has a managing director who is very focused on driving the business forward.

The company has recently won some lucrative contracts, and it is adding new products and services that will help it to expand into new markets.