Bradford inventor sees export success with £50k business loan

Weston Handling Consultancy, the Bradford-based manufacturer, has received financial backing from the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) to increase facilities and create five full time jobs.

Headed by inventor of lifting technology Stephen Weston, the business specialises in modifying manufacturing equipment for efficiency.

After seeing success in the paper industry, Weston Handling Consultancy has launched its new range of British built Stacker trucks, especially designed for paper roll and materials handling applications.

Thanks to a £50k loan from business lenders BEF, plans are now place to move all manufacturing to the Bradford workshop in Fieldhead Business Park where 30 reel handling trucks will be made each year.

Since receiving its funding, Weston Handling Consultancy has secured sales to US-based adhesive and packaging company 3M, and has plans to grow the business overseas due to sales of Stephen’s bespoke products increasing internationally.

This year also sees Stephen take part in Voom 2016 to pitch his seatbelt harness for pregnant women to Richard Branson.

Stephen said: “Around 52% of our clients are from overseas so we needed to increase our warehouse space to provide a facility where we can add the finishing touches to the trucks, test them and showcase our machines to potential customers.

“Our business is based around efficiency, with our homogenised designed trucks allowing larger loads to be carried, which thanks to BEF are now built and distributed quicker than ever before.

“This loan was instrumental to taking our manufacturing process to the next level.”

Stephen Waud, chief executive at BEF which has offices in Bradford, Leeds, York and Darlington, added: “We take pride in supporting fellow Bradford businesses and Stephen has brought innovation to the next level with this business.

“To see such a successful, innovative company develop from our region and grow on a worldwide basis is fantastic!”

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