Wetherby-based family paint company secures £200,000 to aid national expansion

A third-generation family business that provides specialist paints and coatings to industry has secured £200,000 in funding to step up its nationwide expansion.
Michael Crossland
By Michael Crossland
Published 31st Jul 2023, 06:00 BST

New Guard Coatings, which is based in Wetherby and had an existing warehouse in Leicester, has expanded nationally in recent years with the addition of sites in Glasgow, Hull, Warrington and Crawley. The funding will enable it to roll out trade counters or collection points at all the existing locations and create four new jobs in Wetherby and Hull. The company, which currently employs 38 staff, also plans to increase exports to the US via its existing office in Houston.

The loan has been supplied by NPIF – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

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Ben Cooper, managing director at New Guard Coatings, said: “At New Guard, we pride ourselves on our ability to offer top brands and rapid local service while maintaining our family business ethos. We set out our national expansion strategy seven years ago and, with the support of NPIF and Mercia, have already achieved most of our original goals. This latest funding will help us to complete our national network with the launch of a South West office and strengthen our footprint in the existing regions.”

Pictured left ro right: Ben Cooper, managing director of New Guard Coatings, Calum Doig, commercial manager of New Guard Coatings and Andy Clough, investment manager at Mercia Asset Management PLC. Picture by Shaun Flannery.Pictured left ro right: Ben Cooper, managing director of New Guard Coatings, Calum Doig, commercial manager of New Guard Coatings and Andy Clough, investment manager at Mercia Asset Management PLC. Picture by Shaun Flannery.
Pictured left ro right: Ben Cooper, managing director of New Guard Coatings, Calum Doig, commercial manager of New Guard Coatings and Andy Clough, investment manager at Mercia Asset Management PLC. Picture by Shaun Flannery.

New Guard was established in 1977 by father and son team Alan and Paul Cooper and since 2014 has been run by Paul’s son, Ben Cooper.

The latest funding marks the second loan from NPIF – Mercia Debt Finance for the firm. A previous loan received in 2019 has helped to support its expansion to date.

The firm supplies manufacturers, engineering firms and other industrial users with protective coatings, including leading brands and its own Guard range.

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Andy Clough of Mercia, added: “New Guard is an example of a third-generation family business that is continuing to grow and has expanded well beyond its Yorkshire heartland. Thanks to its extensive stock levels and rapid service, it has become the ‘go to’ supplier for commercial coatings. This latest funding will enable it to firmly establish its position as a national operator.”

Related topics:WetherbyHullWarringtonLeicester