A company specialising in vehicle graphics has moved into one of Teesside’s most popular business centres to meet increased demand from customers that include former SSI employees setting up their own businesses.
MK DeSigns, started 18 months ago by Keith Edwards, provides a wide range of signage and vehicle graphics. The move into new workshop and office premises at UK Steel Enterprise’s Innovation Centre on the Kirkleatham Business Park in Redcar has brought his growing business under one roof for the first time.
“I started the business at home in Eston, hiring the workshop and unit space I needed from friends and acquaintances,” he said. “I have wanted to be in the Innovation Centre for some time as it’s an ideal location for me with a lot of my business within a five mile radius. The facilities are also ideal for a young business with meeting rooms, high speed broadband, a manned reception area, parking and the UK Steel Enterprise team on hand. It is going to save me money and such a lot of time having everything under one roof and I’m delighted to be here.
“Part of our recent growth is down to former SSI workers opting for self-employment and we have done the signage and vehicle graphics for new businesses in property maintenance, landscaping, valeting and even mobile gaming.”
Keith, who has more than 16 years experience in the sector, had wanted to set up his own business for some time. With demand growing steadily from larger customers such as courier firms as well, his wife Michelle is now spending more time working with the business.
MK DeSigns is one of the few businesses to provide an on-site service for customers if they want to save the time involved in delivering and collecting vehicles.
Sue Kirk of UK Steel Enterprise said “We’re really happy that MK DeSigns has joined us. Keith originally heard that a similar company based here had done so well that they were moving on to larger premises and, within a few minutes of hearing that, he got in touch. Their actual workshop was already promised to someone but we were able to find him the space he needed fairly quickly.”
Elsa Weatherhead of Sign Art, the signage company that has now moved to a larger unit at Stokesley, said: “We are delighted that Keith has moved in and wish him every success. UK Steel Enterprise helped us out at just a few hours notice when we were suddenly made homeless in 2011. We have loved being at the Innovation Centre and UKSE are great landlords but we have just outgrown the space.”
Details of UK Steel Enterprise’s support for businesses are on www.uksteelenterprise.co.uk or 01642 777 777. MK DeSigns is on 07936 523 440.