Digital advertising business doubles workforce after relocating to Barnsley

An advertising business, which works with ITV and the Metropolitan Police, has doubled its workforce after seeing sales soar since moving to Barnsley.

Media Displays, which specialises in digital advertising vans, has recorded a 37% increase in sales and taken on 14 new members of staff since relocating to Barnsley from Wakefield four months ago.

Now with 26 employees, the business has further plans to take on more drivers and fill posts in design and account management during the first part of 2017.

Media Displays supply mobile LED advertising and display screens attached to vans, known as ‘digi-vans’. They also supply bicycle versions, powered by pedals, and clients include major supermarkets, racecourses, police forces and premiership football clubs.

The company supplied screens to organisers of the 2012 Olympic Games and this year they will work with Tour De Yorkshire for the second time.

Media Displays relocated to a 5,000 sq ft unit on Pontefract Road in Barnsley following 12 years of renting property in Wakefield.

The company’s relocation was supported by Enterprising Barnsley, who helped them to secure a £37,500 grant to back the move from the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Ian Taylor, managing director of Media Displays, said: “We needed a space that fitted our current requirements but that still allowed room for further growth, and the unit we found was ideal. We were also attracted to Barnsley because of the excellent links to the M1 and A1, which is vital for us as our vans are up and down motorways every day.

“The move has allowed us to increase our workforce to meet the rise in demand for our products and services. Being able to tap into the local employment pool in Barnsley was also one of the reasons we were drawn to the area.”

In 2010, Ian appeared on BBC’s Dragons Den and was offered £80,000 investment into Media Displays from multi-millionaire businessman James Caan. The deal didn’t go ahead, but the company benefitted from the exposure and after continued growth, turnover in the last 12 months has increased by 63%.

Media Display’s plans for 2017 include growing its fleet of digi-vans and digi-bikes and moving further into the outdoor events market, which currently accounts for 25% of the business.

At least 20 additional jobs will be created over the next 12 months, and the company will receive further support from Enterprising Barnsley for its recruitment and HR activity.

Enterprising Barnsley is the economic development arm of Barnsley Council and aims to help businesses across the borough develop and expand; generating economic growth and creating jobs.

Steve Hawkins, business development manager at Enterprising Barnsley, commented: “It’s been a pleasure to help Media Displays with their relocation to Barnsley and it’s great to see them creating so many jobs for local people. We look forward to continuing to support their growth plans throughout 2017.”