Wallsend-based Barrier-Ex Ltd (
www.barrier-ex.co.uk), which designs and makes a range of products for use in hazardous areas (including explosion-proof enclosures and systems and lighting equipment), is planning to double its workforce to 28 over the next two years and increase its turnover to £6 million.
The company has unveiled plans to expand into the Middle East and the USA in 2019 as part of its international growth strategy.
This is being supported by Scaleup North East, with a programme (delivered by RTC North) to identify Barrier-Ex’s key challenges and develop an action plan to help the company achieve its growth targets.
Ultimately, this will create new high-quality jobs in the North East.
Barrier-Ex demonstrated its ability to achieve significant growth in the future by expanding from a workforce of two to 14 employees during its first 18 months of operation.
The company has been included in the London Stock Exchange publication ‘1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ and it formed a partnership with Npower in its first year of trading for its LED lighting division.
It has since expanded into electrical engineering and composite manufacturing.
Managing director Steven Lee said: “We are delighted to have been chosen for the Scaleup North East programme, after establishing ourselves as a growing business in the region.
"The support provided by the programme will help us achieve our targets to expand internationally next year.”
Andrew Esson, Scaleup partner at RTC North, said: “The programme offers support from business professionals to companies that demonstrate the potential to achieve high levels of growth.
"Steven and the team at Barrier-Ex showed great passion about the company’s plans to expand internationally over the coming months, so they stood out as a great option to help develop job opportunities in the North East.”