Fund backing ensures that JGP group can take steps to growth

JGP Engineering, based in Wombwell, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, has received 50,000 from Finance Yorkshire's 90m venture capital and loan fund to establish a powder coating facility which will create around three jobs.

Established in 1998, JGP Engineering has become one of the largest architectural metalwork specialists in the UK. Originally, the company specialised in providing electric gates.

It now provides everything associated with architectural metalwork such as balustrades, balconies, architectural louvers, staircases and structural steelwork, in materials such as stainless steel and glass.

The company will be using the money to establish a facility that enables it to complete final coat finishings of wet paint or powder coats to its metalwork on site.

Over the last 12 years, managing director Gary Phillis has seen the workforce grow from two to more than 40.

He said yesterday: "By not being able to provide a finishing service we have to outsource this area of work which means we don't have any control over the quality. Bringing this service in house will mean we are in a much stronger position to provide an even better service to our customers."

Mr Phillis said he was "happy" with the company's turnover, but warned that conditions were still tough in the UK construction sector.

He added: "I see us continuing to battle very hard to get work. If there weren't institutions like Finance Yorkshire, smaller businesses wouldn't have a prayer."

David Ward, a Finance Yorkshire spokesman, said: "JGP Engineering is a great example of a company that has diversified over the years and expanded rapidly."

Finance Yorkshire helps a range of small and medium-sized businesses to meet their funding requirements for growth and development. It provides seedcorn, loan and equity linked investments, ranging from 15,000 to 2m.

The project has attracted 30m investment from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), 15m from Yorkshire Forward's Single Programme, and 45m match funding from the European Investment Bank.

Further information about Finance Yorkshire can be found at www.finance-yorkshire.com or by ringing 0845 649 0000.