Brintons to create 35 jobs with expansion
About 35 new jobs are to be created in Kidderminster after the owners of carpet maker Brintons announced plans to expand the business.
The 230-year-old company is rolling out new technology to enable it to offer customers a wider choice of products.
New engineering apprenticeships will also be offered by the firm, which currently employs around 500 workers across two sites in Kidderminster and Telford as well as owning sites in India and Portugal.
The expansion plans are a welcome boost for the Stourport Road-based company, which shed around 75 jobs, with the majority in Kidderminster, in February last year.
But managing director Don Coates said the company was now looking to increase the workforce by up to 15 per cent as it started using more high-definition weave technology, which will help increase its productivity. Developed by Brintons, the new looms will allow the firm to weave carpets and rugs in up to 32 colours, giving customers what it claims will be "unrivalled design definition and colour choice".
The firm, which was bought for £40 million in September 2011 by the Carlyle Group, hopes 30 positions and five apprenticeships will be created in Kidderminster.
Meanwhile, there will be around nine new jobs and three apprenticeships in Telford.
Mr Coates said: "Our brand reputation is built on design innovation, product excellence, technical expertise and customer focus; it's essential we continue to invest in all of these areas to ensure our future success.
"We have a very clear view of how we deliver value for our customers; our mission is to make the world a more beautiful place, which we have been doing for over 200 years.
"We have a fantastic employee ethos with tremendous commitment to the business and the Brintons brand; we will go the extra mile to help our customers achieve their goals.
"Our customers are incredibly discerning, so we work hard to stay one step ahead.
"We have just filed our company accounts that report a significant turnaround, so we are in a strong position to invest in our people, products and our unrivalled technology. This is good news for our business and a reflection of the hard work and commitment of the management team and of all our employees worldwide, and of the support from our customers."
Brintons also plans to expand its spinning facility in Telford following the decision by Axminster Carpets to close its operation in Buckfast and sell off equipment.
Brintons' yarn processing capacity will increase by more than a third to support the company's sales growth plans.
