North Tyneside-based Expert Precision Engineering is celebrating its first year of trading with a five-fold increase in staff numbers, following new contract wins in the aerospace sector.
Stephen Hornby, Michael Thompson and Martin Stokoe launched the company in September 2018 to manufacture parts for the oil and gas, aerospace, marine and automotive sectors.
After receiving support from the North Tyneside Business Factory and a £50,000 loan from Virgin Start-Up, the firm began trading from Benton Business Park with two CNC machines (shared between three people).
The founders worked in shifts to fulfil orders and get the business off the ground (
www.expertprecisionengineering.com).
Mr Hornby said: “Our initial goal was to work as a sub-contractor on precision manufacturing orders for key clients in a range of sectors.
"However, we began winning direct orders from customers, allowing us to act as the main provider and therefore grow our team much quicker than we anticipated.
"Our initial three members of staff have now grown to 14 skilled workers, with one apprentice and a number of machine operators.
"We have also expanded our capacity by growing our equipment to seven machines in our 3,200ft
2 premises at Benton Business Park.
"However, we have now signed the lease to take on the neighbouring unit, which will give us an additional 4,000ft
2 to expand into as we seek to employ three more people and purchase two more new machines by the end of the year.
"The next 12 months offer an opportunity to strengthen our internal processes in order to support our customers, ensure that product quality is maintained and develop our workforce, so that employee satisfaction remains strong.”
The company worked with business advisor Tracy Clarkson at the Business Factory to develop its initial plans and find suitable premises in North Tyneside for its needs.
She said: “Expert Precision Engineering is a business with huge potential, and the team has worked hard over the past 12 months to ensure that its vision for the business could develop, as new opportunities presented themselves.”