Durham workwear firm to create 50 new jobs as it eyes global expansion

A North East workwear specialist is set to expand globally and hit £50m of sales by 2023 after increasing turnover by almost a third.

Durham-headquartered Workwear Express has reported turnover of £23m - an increase of 30 per cent - in its results ending March 2020. In addition, the firm is set to create 50 new jobs across the business during 2020.

The growth follows a range of investment projects by the firm in 2019, including £4m for an additional 40,000 sq ft manufacturing site and £1.3m for new machinery.

Andrew Ward, chairman of Workwear Express, commented: “We set out an ambitious growth strategy in 2018 with an aim to increase turnover by more than 20 per cent year-on-year to 2023. We’re on track to deliver against this strategy, which is seeing us invest heavily to meet customer demand.

“Market appetite for our product range has remained high even throughout the lockdown period, owing to our diverse customer base. We’re now actively recruiting across the business, and our 50 new roles this year follows a similar recruitment drive last year, providing job security to our people in the tough economic climate.

In addition to hitting £50m in sales, the firm plans to expand operations internationally. Andrew explained: “In addition to these investments we are also eyeing international expansion – with plans to launch in North America in the coming years.

“As a technology-led business in our sector we see a wealth of opportunity for us to disrupt markets internationally and build on our existing growth trajectory.”