Firm's expansion leads to skills search

25 September 2008

Engineering company Barker Collins is hunting for skilled workers to help it make the most of a multimillion pound investment programme that has boosted its capacity and set it on the road for further growth.

The company is moving from its ageing Hallamshire Works on Bardwell Road, Neepsend to a modern factory, twice the size, on Thorncliffe Park, Chapeltown.

As well as moving existing machines, the company is installing £1 million-worth of new equipment, to boost production by 25 per cent and is considering investing a further £1 million in machinery - on top of a £4.5 million investment in recent years - to fuel further expansion.

"The company's turnover has doubled in size over the last two years to £3.5 million," says Barker Collins Engineering's John Sidebottom.

"We are looking to be at £5 million in two years, but we can't do that without the personnel."

The company is currently seeking to expand its workforce by about 10 per cent and hopes to take on even more skilled workers once the move to Chapeltown is complete at the end of the year.

Barker Collins' latest investment has given it the capacity to machine components weighing up to five tonnes to tight tolerances for customers who include companies supplying the engine, earth moving equipment, power generation, oil and gas, materials handling, nuclear and defence sectors.

But, if it is to realise its potential it will need to find more skilled workers