North-East logistics experts InBond have recruited new staff and apprentices after securing new customers who have helped push turnover beyond £2 million.
Now the Stockton company is looking to open a second Teesside site as its management team eyes a “huge opportunity for growth” across the region.
InBond has invested in new scan-on- demand technology and new racking within their 75,000 sq ft secure warehouse.
Specialising in document management, warehousing, transport and product enhancement, InBond’s blue chip customers include the NHS, Next and Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies.
Having recently won a significant contract with a major housing organisation, they have increased their in-house team to 40 with the recruitment of five new staff together with apprentices Cory Roberts and Nicole Shaw.
InBond directors Craig Rye and Phil Lyons say the business, based off Portrack Lane, has a positive future.
Finance director Craig said: “These are exciting times for InBond. We aim to continue to grow, create more jobs and invest in a new site – almost certainly on Teesside – within the next 12 months.
“Phil and I are both proud Teessiders who see a huge opportunity for growth here but we’re also targeting surrounding areas including Wearside, Tyneside and Durham. The scan-on- demand equipment we’ve invested in means previous geographic boundaries have been removed so we’re confident of winning business from near and far.”
Craig says InBond is expanding to meet the increasing workload that has followed a commitment to world class quality management standards, with the company achieving ISO9001:2008, BRC Food certification and Sedex accreditation.
He said: “There are some big players in this industry but some of our key contract gains have seen us take clients from our direct competitors thanks to our customer- focused ethos that ensures we focus on delivering for the varying requirements of our clients, large or small.”
“We felt there was an obvious gap in the market at the high-end of the industry. Our commitment to achieving the very highest of standards has undoubtedly helped us to attract a high level of blue chip clients, helping us to grow quickly over a relatively short space of time.
“Those standards certainly helped us win our recent contracts with the likes of Fujifilm, whilst other new professional services clients have been impressed with our quality management commitment.
“We’ve also invested in new scan-on- demand technology that allows us to scan andsecurely send a file to customers, while we’re constantly investing in new racking systems to maximise the use of our warehouse space.”
“The scan-on- demand service offers a high capacity of scanning to a high quality. InBond work to the varying requirements of our clients and can satisfy the conditions needed by major organisations.”
New warehouse apprentice Cory, 18, is learning warehouse management systems and processes, while he will also undertake courses in forklift truck and scissor lift operation. He is undertaking his apprenticeship through Middlesbrough College.
Office junior Nicole, 18, is also undertaking an apprenticeship course, through training provider ITEC NE.
Previous apprentices taken on by the company are now valued members of the InBond team and continue to develop with the firm.
Craig, who himself began his working life as an apprentice with Billingham firm Pearson-Harper, said: “Apprenticeships give young people a good grounding and a great opportunity to learn the job whilst studying. We’re firm believers in taking on local people and giving them an opportunity to progress.”