Business support gets Tony off to a flying start

KenRox Contracts was started by 44-year-old Tony Dunn with support from the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and UK Steel Enterprise.

The father of seven-year-old twins – after whom the business is named – from Rowley Regis set up the business after being made redundant from adi Interiors, the King's Norton based refurbishment and fit out company with clients such as Boots, Cadbury and Akzo Nobel.

Mr Dunn was informed of the redundancy in April, finished in May and after getting funding from UK Steel Enterprise started trading in July.

"I looked at the future and thought, I've got 28 years of industry experience and an abundance of contacts to make this work. I've been managing major projects for many years and have been really surprised how well the business has been received so far.

"The big shock for me was realising all the administration involved in running a business and the IT you need these days. All of that stuff is given to you when you work for someone else and if it were not for the grant from UK Steel I would not have been able to make the good start I have," he said.

Within days of launching he secured a contract to work with the Co-op to manage its move of its existing main head office/distribution centre in Newcastle-under-Lyme along with another contract to work with the manufacturing support organisation EEF to manage its move from Tysley to Perry Barr.

Both projects are now completed and Mr Dunn has also recently completed projects working with bike specialist Specialized on schemes in Nottingham and Chelmsford and is due to start a full fit out hair salon project locally in Stourbridge for a local award-winning hair stylist.

He is also in negotiations for further major blue chip projects around the UK.

Mr Dunn is a member of Black Country Chamber of Commerce, which pointed him in the direction of UK Steel Enterprise, the wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Steel that operates in areas of the UK affected by changes in steel producing industries.

He applied for help from UK Steel Enterprise's Kickstart Fund which provides grants of up to £500 to start-up businesses to purchase essential equipment and or services that can get them trading.

Keith Williams, regional manager for UK Steel Enterprise said: "It may be early days for Tony and his new business but he's certainly heading in the right direction."