A Hambleton business has opened a new multi million pound manufacturing plant on an estate that is itself undergoing a £4.1 million upgrade.
Directors of Wetherby Group see work to replace the flood blighted Dalton Bridge as a massive boost to the industrial estate they have called home since 2002.
The £4.1m upgrade is being delivered as the result of a partnership between businesses on the Dalton Industrial Estate; the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership, North Yorkshire County Council, Hambleton District Council and the Environment Agency.
The existing flood-blighted bridge, which has been closed for long periods in the past because of recurring flooding is being replaced and the road realigned.
Wetherby Group began its life in 1974 as CR Building Services, contracting stone and rendering products. Founded by the current Chairman, John K Chalmers, the business began manufacturing reproduction stone products from Thorpe Arch Trading Estate in the 1980s, under the name Wetherby Stone Products Ltd. After 20 years at Thorpe Arch, the business bought its next factory in Ripon and in 2002, moved to its current site at Dalton.
Since then it has expanded from its original four acres to a ten acre site – and has recently invested £4m into a brand new purpose built manufacturing plant which supplies powdered building products such as cements, renders, mortars and tile adhesives.
Still a family run business, Managing Director Alex Chalmers said: “We have ambitious plans for future investment and for the future growth of the business – and it will be at Dalton. The facility is capable of making around 200,000 tonnes per annum – we are well equipped for future growth.
We have decided to do this at Dalton because it is a great location – very central, good access to the motorway network and run by a council that is committed to business growth.
At the same time as the new plant opened the business took on five new employees who had been made redundant as the result of the closure of the 3M plant in Northallerton.
“We are getting ourselves ready for growth,” added Alex. “Hambleton District Council has helped us to offer positions to five of 3M’s former employees – within our production and technical teams. There is a great strategic fit here as they all have the experience we require to build on our excellent foundations and, together with the plant investment, we’re now fully set up to achieve the first phase of our future growth targets.”
Leader of Hambleton District Council, Councillor Mark Robson, added: “Seeing Wetherby Group expanding on Dalton fits with our long term aspirations for this important Hambleton based business park. The work to replace the bridge will secure the long term future of this site and we look forward to seeing other businesses following the Wetherby Group lead.”
Pictured from left to right are: Alex Chalmers, Klaudia Duczynska (sales) Robin Cowton (ex 3M) Kelly Quarmby (marketing), John Chalmers, Gavin Bagshaw (ex 3M) and Councillor Mark Robson.
Aly Thompson, Communications Officer
22.05.18