Sheffield product designer secures £100k boost to help bring jobs to former colliery site

AME Group, the product development consultancy which is generating new jobs on a former colliery site, has secured a £100k loan from NPIF – Mercia Debt Finance.

The Sheffield-based firm is an independent product design consultancy and is behind many best-selling products, from Dettol soap and Morphy Richards food steamers to Harris paint brushes and B&Q Performance power tools.

The company was set up in 1996 from Ian Jones’ kitchen table after he was made redundant from his job with British Coal. Ian was soon joined by Paul Howell, managing director.

Based on the site of the former Dinnington Colliery, AME now employs over 20 staff and has a turnover of around £1.5m.

AME services span sectors from consumer goods to medical and automotive and customers including Dyson, Smith & Nephew, GlaxoSmithKline, Hornby and Unilever.

The company now plans to strengthen its design team by creating multiple roles over the next 12 months.

Pete Sorsby, investment manager at Mercia Fund Managers, said: “AME has built its business on the strength of its product design process and is regarded as one of the UK’s leading and most innovative product design consultancies.

“The business has helped to bring creativity to the former colliery site and generate new jobs. This funding will help to support its growth and expand the team.”

Grant Peggie, director at British Business Bank, added: “SMEs like AME Group form the foundation of the region’s future growth and we are pleased to be able to support these businesses by providing the growth finance required.

“We will continue to work with our fund managers and the wider business community to support creative and innovative businesses across the Sheffield City Region.”

NPIF – Mercia Debt Finance is managed by Mercia Fund Managers and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.