Partner Article

Crystal Galleries creates 8 new jobs at Middlesbrough HQ

Crystal Galleries, a supplier of glass and crystal for decorative products, has created eight new jobs at its Middlesbrough HQ.

Securing over £67k in new funding, the new hires form part of an expansion which also sees the firm bolster its warehouse space and invest in new machinery.

Backed by the Tees Valley Capital Grant, secured with support from North East firm Anderson Barrowcliff, the business used £40k of the funding to increase its warehouse from 15,000 to 23,000 sq ft.

The remaining £27k was spent on new machinery, including one of only three sub-surface laser engraving machines in the country.

The Teesside-based chartered accountants and business advisory practice also enabled its client to access research and development tax rebates, extra banking facilities and debt funding from UK Steel Enterprises.

Finance Director Joanne Lowes, whose father George Lowes founded the business in 1982, said: “The financial support we’ve received will facilitate our growth in the coming years.

The company, which employs 67 people, registered 15% year-on-year growth in turnover in 2015/16 and is now on track for a record year in 2016/17 according to Joanne.

She continued: “We’ve increased our product range and can now offer a much wider range of options to our customers, including sub-surface engraving and full colour photo printing on glass.

“We’ve also been able to reduce our lead time and increase our stock ahead of a busy 2017, in which we’ll be attending a number of major exhibitions.

James Dale, partner at Anderson Barrowcliff, added: “Crystal Galleries has worked with us for over three years and we’ve witnessed a lot of change in that time as its growth has continued.

“We are delighted to have provided the expertise and strategic services needed to put the infrastructure in place for future expansion.”

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