Local business expanding to Okehampton East Business Park

The latest business to purchase a plot at the Okehampton East Business Park has been announced.

Okehampton-based Cladco Profiles, which manufactures and supplies quality roofing, composite decking and cladding products, will be expanding by developing a new industrial unit at Devon County Council's 20-acre employment site.

Over the past five years the company has grown from around 20 employees to more than 40. In order to continue its expansion, Cladco Profiles will develop the new site to provide a warehousing and storage facility for the business. It will also be used for the manufacture of some of its roofing sheets, with the majority of the company’s manufacturing at the current site at Beardown Road on Exeter Road Industrial Estate.

Lawrence Trescher, Managing Director of Cladco Profiles Ltd, said: “Okehampton, Hatherleigh and the local community surrounding this area have been very good to us in the past and it is important for us to remain within the area as we look to grow the business further in the future. Our family business is committed to remaining in Okehampton and continuing to support the local community and the area’s economy. The new facility at Okehampton East Business Park will give us the space we need to increase our operation and to grow, this will enable us to create more employment opportunities in the area.”

Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Cladco Profiles to the Okehampton East Business Park, adding to the exciting portfolio of developments that have already bought plots at the park. This move will help the company achieve its plans for expansion and by remaining in the town they will continue to help the local economy to grow.”

Councillor Kevin Ball, Devon County Councillor for Okehampton Rural, said: “Cladco are one of our successful local companies who have already had one expansion recently. It is terrific news that their purchase on Okehampton East Business Park has now been confirmed. This will enable them to future proof their business and hopefully allow them to offer more employment to local people.”

Steve Hindley, Chair of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “I am delighted that the Okehampton East Business Park is going from strength to strength. It was a good investment from our Rural Growth Pilot in which we successfully bid for five projects to tackle the barriers of economic growth in the countryside. The Heart of the South West achieved the best results in the country in terms of value for money in our Rural Growth Pilot – we attracted over five times the amount of public money than the original government grant – which shows the value and viability of these important projects.”

The Okehampton East Business Park development has been brought forward with funding from Devon County Council and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, and forms part of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership’s Rural Growth Network Pilot. The business park is planned to be the main employment growth area for Okehampton over the next five years, with the potential to support over 300 jobs.

The first plots were sold last year to the Okehampton Skills and Sports Trust, which is developing a Business Incubation Centre at the business park, and Forthglade, the Devon based natural pet food manufacturer, which is developing a new manufacturing facility at the site to expand its business.

All plots are being sold freehold with each purchaser securing their own detailed planning consent within the plots. For more information or to register interest please contact Diane Rider at NPS SW Ltd on 01392 351209 / Diane.Rider@nps.co.uk