Timber frame manufacturer plans turnover and staff growth following support and funding

A company which builds and supplies timber frame structures for construction projects is planning continued growth after receiving help from a number of business support projects available through Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub. Rainford Timber Co is based in Bamber Bridge and supplies timber frame structures for houses and other residential development projects.

Ross Smith, Rainford Timber’s contracts manager, contacted Boost in May last year for support to unlock the company’s growth including advice on refreshing Rainford’s brand. Boost’s Growth Support Service met Ross and helped the company develop a strategy for growth. This included connecting the company to a variety of funded support services in Lancashire where he could receive further support, including the Manufacturing Growth Fund and Made Smarter. As well as receiving digital marketing advice and funding from the Manufacturing Growth Fund which was used to create a new website and refresh the company’s brand, Rainford has also received support from Made Smarter to invest in the company’s productivity.

Ross said: “It’s hard to put a value on the support Boost gives. The Growth Hub helped us developed a strategy and made connections to where we could receive further advice and funding to support these ambitions. “We were unaware of a lot of the different forms of business support which are available. We were planning to develop our website and corporate brand anyway but the funding we received meant we could invest more wisely and prepare our business for expansion.” Boost is Lancashire's Business Growth Hub and is led by Lancashire County Council and the Lancashire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership). It is supported by funding from Lancashire County Council, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. As a funded business support service, Boost helps Lancashire business owners and leaders navigate the local, regional and national public and private sector business support landscape to find the right support for their business. Boost also delivers a number of funded programmes for start-up, established and fast-growing businesses.

The support from Made Smarter included a grant which Rainford has used to purchase new panel manufacturing machine, which has significantly increased the firm’s production capacity within its current site. Rainford Timber currently employs around 30 people and Ross believes the increased capacity will lead to an increase in employees in the coming years. Ross said: “We want to grow turnover consistently over the next 2-3 years and feel that is achievable. We’re committed to local labour and by controlling our growth over the coming years we plan to create more local jobs.” Rainford is continuing to receive advice through Boost’s Growth Support Programme and referrals into other supports services in Lancashire and is participating in Boost’s Growth Mentoring Programme.

Ross is also engaging with the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and other local business support organisations. He added this was helping the firm to continue to raise its profile, which is also contributing to the company’s growth. 

Ross Smith, Rainford Timber