Panel Warehouse on course to hit £2m target after bumper year

North West-based manufacturer, Panel Warehouse, is on course to break the £2 million sales barrier, following a record-breaking year in the public and private sectors.

The Eccles-based company, which manufactures office screens, dividers and display boards, has seen turnover increase by 10 per cent in the quarter ending 30 September 2013, with general sales for the remainder of the year ahead of initial forecasts.

The company has seen particular growth in the education sector – up by 38 per cent, during the same period – as schools and colleges continue to purchase products that maximise existing resources in line with government-mandated guidelines of 30 pupils per class.

Recent data suggests that two out of three schools in the UK will be over capacity and unable to meet the demand for student places by 2016. According to Panel Warehouse, this is forcing educators to come up with creative solutions to meet the need for more classroom space.

Michael Rappaport is chief executive of the British manufacturer, which produces and delivers more than 15,000 workspace products via its e-commerce website. He commented: “With general sales up on last year, and repeat business also rising by 4.5 per cent from 2012, we are living proof that the manufacturing sector is showing real signs of recovery.

“By focusing on key sectors, and tapping into the approach of using budgets wisely to combat problematic space requirements – whether in older buildings that are no longer fit for purpose, or new properties that often compromise contemporary design over the best use of space – we’re confident we’ll break the £2 million turnover barrier in 2013 [client to confirm].”

According to recent statistics from the CBI, growth in the UK’s manufacturing sector is continuing to pick up, with orders at their highest level since the start of the financial crisis. The survey of nearly 400 manufacturers found that total orders rose for the fifth consecutive month, while exports orders also grew strongly.

Lyn Boardman, operations director at Panel Warehouse, added: “We’re extremely proud of our manufacturing roots and the strong emphasis we place on employing local people – some of whom have been with us for over a decade. With the general manufacturing outlook on the upward curve, we intend to continue to invest in new and innovative product development, while placing even greater emphasis on customer service and deliverability.”

Panel Warehouse – which employs 20 people at its Manchester-based facility – supplies to thousands of businesses, procurement and facilities managers across the UK. These include: SMEs, the public sector, education, charity, ecclesiastical Insurance, housing associations and healthcare.