Arch, the Northumberland Development Company, has helped an award-winning North East manufacturer of cake decorations expand into new premises.
BakeArt UK Ltd, based at Merchant Court in Ashington, has invested £150,000 to lease and kit-out two new units that will extend its manufacturing operations following a period of rapid growth.
The market leading company, which launched in 2010, employs 25 staff and specialises in the design and production of bespoke cake decorations for major retailers including Tesco, Marks & Spencer and a number of national high street bakery chains.
Arch has supported business partners Malcolm Hemmings and Tony Wadley to facilitate the expansion by swiftly identifying and advising them on a deal, which saw BakeArt UK Ltd increase the number of units leased at Merchant Court from three to five, with a total floor space of 7,500sq ft.
BakeArt MD, Tony Wadley, said: “When we launched our client base was mainly in the UK but we’re now selling into Ireland and France with plans to export across Europe from 2016.
“A major benefit of working with the commercial team at Arch is their speed and flexibility. They quickly assessed and understood the needs of the business. Working across multiple sites was not an option. As a growing company it was vital to secure additional units in close proximity to our HQ and to move quickly with minimal disruption.
“We are grateful to Arch for helping us realise this opportunity. South East Northumberland is the perfect base for us. Business space is relatively inexpensive, there’s excellent transport links and an experienced talent pool to draw from thanks to its tradition in food production and manufacturing.”
The new units have increased BakeArt’s manufacturing capacity, storage and office space.
Arch Group chairman and deputy leader of Northumberland County Council, councillor Dave Ledger, explains: “Arch has a clear economic focus designed to bring a fresh, more enterprising and business-like approach to development and regeneration in the county.
“We are proud to work with ambitious local companies like BakeArt. They are a perfect example of a young company which really hit the ground running. Their hard work and dedication has paid off and it is fantastic that we are able to offer the business more space when and where it’s needed.”
Arch was established by Northumberland County Council in 2011 as a private-sector arms-length development company to drive capital economic development, physical regeneration projects and business growth across the county.
It generates commercial income from investment, development and estate management. Supplemented by other funding streams, profits are recycled into regeneration activity, inward investment and business support creating a ‘profit for purpose’ business model which delivers sustainable benefits to communities across Northumberland.
With a portfolio of one million square feet of space, Arch is now building speculative business space throughout Northumberland. The portfolio consists of industrial workshop and warehouse units, office buildings, suites, business parks and managed workspace. Property sizes range from approximately 200sq ft to 40,000sq ft.