Sunderland electronics firm create 60 new jobs

Sunderland-based electronics manufacturer Connor Solutions Ltd will create 60 new engineering and highly skilled assembly jobs following £3.6m investment.

The Rainton Bridge plant will invest £3.6m in expansion using Regional Growth Fund money, and hopes to double the capacity of its 50,000 sq ft factory.

Connor managing director, Dermot Guerin, said: “The investment will allow us to forge ahead with our strategic plan for market growth and increase our turnover to £20 million.

“Our strategy is to develop long term relationships with select customers in a number of key market areas where our technical capability and manufacturing expertise gives us real advantages and opportunities.

“The plant expansion will particularly help us to extend our capability in global logistics support, which is very demanding on space availability, and investment in new technology will further increase the speed and flexibility of our specialist manufacturing services.”

The expansion will include investment in new electronic production technologies as part of plans for further growth in niche electronics products used in the medical, industrial, aerospace and energy sectors.

Funding for the project has been agreed with Barclays for the acquisition of the building and land required for the expansion and the plan is also being supported by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund.

Aaron Clark, Relationship Director at Barclays said: “Connor Solutions is a key customer and local employer and I am absolutely delighted to have delivered the necessary financing to deliver growth and quality jobs for the future and look forward to working in partnership with the management team on what is a very exciting strategic growth journey ahead.

“The Government-backed Funding for Lending scheme is a great way for businesses to invest in their future and continue with their growth plans. “Under the scheme Barclays passes on the whole of the benefit it derives through the cashback lump sum paid out at drawdown of the loan and we’re optimistic that businesses will take advantage of this cheap time to borrow and make the investment decision they’ve been putting off.”

Connor was established in 1999 as a management buyout from Invensys Appliance Control Technology Europe and has successfully built an international customer base in the manufacture of highly specialist electronic products, PCBs and assemblies.

As well as the UK, the company has a number of blue-chip clients based in Ireland and the USA.

Phil Hall, Financial Director, Connor Solutions said: “Using the Government-backed ‘Funding for Lending’ scheme has enabled us to complete the purchase to tight deadlines and we are delighted with the support that we have received from Aaron and Barclays”

In preparing its expansion plan and securing support from the Regional Growth Fund, Connor was also assisted by Tyne and Wear Development Company and was advised by RSM Tenon and David Wilson of David Wilson Associates.