Huddersfield builders merchant to double workforce with launch of new £1.2m store

A Huddersfield builders merchant has announced plans to create new jobs with the launch of a £1.2m store.

JTD Building Supplies has bought a two-acre site on New Mill Road, Brockholes Holmfirth, with support of a £765k finance package from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

JTD acquired the site to house a new 11,000 sq ft facility which will be used to sell goods to trade customers, DIY enthusiasts and construction firms.

The store is set to open in the first quarter of 2018, and will be almost four times the size of the business’ current 22,000 sq ft space, which it leases at Meltham Mills Industrial Estate.

12 months of moving into the new premises, the company aims to double its nine-strong workforce.

JTD has achieved revenue of £2.75m per annum after six years of trading to construction firms and the public. It expects to increase this to more than £3m per annum by the end of the year.

Tony Sharkey, managing director at JTD, said: “Our site at Meltham Mills has served us well since we formed in 2011, but we’ve outgrown the unit and require an outside yard, which the new site will accommodate.

“We’re building a new store to our exact specifications. The new site is located on a main road, which is a more prominent location for us. We expect this to help grow our business further.

“Building a new premises can be a complex process, but the team at Lloyds Bank has always been on hand to provide guidance on how we can manage our cashflow while investing in growth.”

Ben Cutts, relationship director at Lloyds Bank, added: “Yorkshire’s regional PMI index is showing some of the quickest rises in job creation seen over the last two years.

“This is partly down to ambitious firms like JTD, who are being proactive in finding ways to expand and grow their businesses.

“Lloyds Bank is committed to helping companies like JTD, which is why we’ve increased our net lending to SMEs by 31% since 2011 – a key element of Lloyds Banking Group’s commitment to helping Britain prosper.”