Harrogate-headquartered Robinsons Facilities Services is on target to achieve 33% growth this year after receiving a six figure investment from NPIF – FW Capital Debt Finance, which is managed by FW Capital and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund. The commercial property maintenance, repair and compliance company has received follow on investment from FW Capital after receiving its first round of funding in 2020. The latest round of funding is helping Robinsons Facilities Services to plan for their next phase of growth and create new jobs as it further broadens its service offering. Luke Kitchen, Managing Director at Robinsons Facilities Services, says: “Today the business is over almost four times the size it was in 2013 and we’ve broadened our services to include everything that’s needed to maintain and repair commercial buildings. “The investment received from FW Capital has provided us with a secure platform to grow our business with confidence. We’ve also expanded our workforce and recently taken on an engineer and two more admin roles. Lindsey at FW Capital has been a great help, she’s always been on hand to assist us and provided us with the appropriate funding.” Lindsey McMenamin, Portfolio Manager at FW Capital, added: “Robinsons Facilities Services is a long standing, prominent and established position in the Yorkshire market and has a strong reputation for providing quality customer service and reliable solutions. “We have enjoyed an excellent relationship with the business and management team since the first round of investment in 2020. Their experience and capabilities are reflected in the business’s solid growth. We’re delighted to support their future development and creation of new jobs in the region.”

With dozens of jobs already created in Keighley and Shipley thanks to in the injection of cash the Towns Funds, there is still money available for other companies. The Capital Assistance to Business Growth Programme is part of the government-funded Towns Fund, making £4m available to support local businesses in the Keighley and Shipley areas, with about £2m allocated to each. Grants are allocated by Towns Fund boards for each town, made up of private sector representatives, with support from Bradford Council. Up to September 2023, 13 businesses in Keighley have been awarded up to £276,000 of funding, and eight in Shipley being awarded up to £137,000, with the expectation of 65 jobs being created as a result. Funding has so far been spent on a wide-range of projects by businesses across the district such as expanding and modernising facilities, as well as replacing older equipment with more efficient, up-to-date systems. One of the latest businesses to benefit has been aluminium glazed façade manufacturer and installer Aire-Valley Architectural, of Parkwood Street in Keighley. The business was able to create one new job after receiving £16,775 of funding towards machine software and installation, as well as upgrading the factory’s facilities. Sales Director Chris Kilvington said: “The business was established in 1994 and we’ve been in this same building since 2002. The grant has allowed us to improve and upgrade the facilities, including reconfiguring the way we work. It means we’ve been able to move the noisier elements of the processes into the same space, which is much better from a health and safety perspective. “It has been incredible to have this support through the Towns Fund. The way the grants process has worked was exceptional. We’ve had such support from Bradford Council who have walked us through the application and supported us every step of the way. It’s made a real difference to the business and will continue to do so for years to come.” Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, explained: “Grants ranging from £1,500 to £315,000 are still available for businesses within – or looking to move to – the Keighley and Shipley Towns Fund Areas, and other businesses are invited to apply. “It’s so positive to see how this funding is already making such a significant impact. It has directly translated into growth for the businesses who have received it so far and the welcome creation of new jobs for the area.” Print and Direct Mail business Fretwell Print and Design, of Goulbourne Street in Keighley, recently received £19,989 towards replacing their printer with a new model. It has created two new production operative roles, to join the 48-strong team. Joint Managing Director Andy Gillett said: “We produce high-quality printed packaging, literature and direct mail products for many large blue-chip companies and organisations both here in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. “We used the Keighley Towns Fund grant to purchase a Kyocera 4-colour inkjet machine, enabling us to increase productivity as well as saving time and resources. The machine also means we’re making an 86 per cent saving in energy consumption. “The process in securing the grant was straightforward and we were guided through by Bradford Council. It’s an investment that means we’ll be able to grow our existing customer base and open up new markets, as the speed of service will make us even more competitive. “I’d definitely recommend other businesses contact the team to see if they can benefit – this kind of support for local businesses is crucial in the current economic climate.” Ian Hayfield, chairman of Keighley Towns Fund, said: “We are delighted to have made such a significant difference to these local businesses in a relatively short space of time. Keighley has a proud industrial heritage and a thriving and enterprising business community. There is funding available for businesses who would benefit and we’re keen to help Keighley’s businesses to grow. I would encourage anyone interested in applying to get in touch.”

UK GDP (gross domestic product) was flat in the three months to September, compared to the previous quarter, in which the three months to June saw a 0.2% expansion. It mirrors the Bank of England’s expectations of a flat economy in 2024. In output terms there was a 0.1% fall in the services sector, which offset a 0.1% increase in construction output and broadly flat output in the production sector. Meanwhile, in expenditure terms, an increase in the volume of net trade was offset by falls in business investment, household spending and government consumption. Month on month, the economy showed growth of 0.2% in September, following a 0.1% rise in August (having been revised down from 0.2%) and a 0.6% fall in July 2023, suggesting the UK has managed to avoid recession this year. Expectations have been beat, however, of a 0.1% fall in GDP. Ben Jones, CBI lead economist, said: “Forecasts for the UK economy have generally been edging down recently and the latest growth figures lived up to this gloomier view of near-term prospects. “It’s clear that higher interest rates are starting to bite, and demand has become less resilient. CBI surveys agree with that overall picture and suggest that private sector activity is likely to stagnate in the coming months. “The Bank of England’s latest forecasts make for particularly grim reading, with the economy expected to be flat next year – before growing at feeble rates in both 2025 and 2026. But action from the Chancellor in the Autumn Statement in a couple of weeks’ time could change that outlook. “Unlocking business investment across the economy by making full expensing permanent could – according to CBI analysis – lead to a 2% increase to GDP by the end of the decade.”