An expanding Stokesley business has full order books and is looking to expand as the economic recovery from the pandemic gathers momentum.
Sterling GP, which manufactures heavy duty truck bodywork at its base on the Stokesley Business Park, explained to Rishi how it was set to grow during his recent visit to the business.
The company – owned by the James family – has full order books on the back of a busy construction sector.
It makes specialist “beavertail” plant bodies for trucks and step frame low-loader trailers used to transport construction equipment to and from sites.
Sterling GP also recently purchased Hymix, a manufacturer of truck-mounted concrete mixers, moved the business from Shropshire to Stokesley and invested £1m in a new production facility for the mixers.
Rishi inspected the first mixer off the production line which has been sold to local firm Ready Mix Tees Valley. It will soon be delivering concrete across Teesside to the many infrastructure projects which are gathering pace.
As this new production strand to the business develops, the company is looking to recruit up to 20 skilled employees to add to the existing team of around 50 staff.
Jarl James, sales director and son of co-founder Antony James, said Sterling was keen to develop its workforce and was looking to take advantage of the additional apprenticeship incentives announced by Mr Sunak in the recent Budget.
He said: “The new production capacity will definitely lead to more opportunities for skilled staff in the coming months and years.
“We also want to grow our team through developing young people. We have recruited school leavers in the past and will be looking at formal apprenticeships too.”
Mr James said another measure announced in the Budget – the 130 per cent “super deduction” capital allowance to encourage investment – had benefited the business already in stimulating orders.
Rishi said the positivity of the James family and the Sterling GP team was impressive.
“It is very encouraging to see a business finding new markets and developing its team to meet a growing demand for their class-leading products.
“The last year has been tough but they are clearly well set to take advantage of increasing activity in the construction sector as the economic recovery continues.”
