PAILTON'S GOING PLACES.

Byline: Jenny Waddington

AWARD-WINNING manufacturer Pailton Engineering has unveiled ambitious plans to drive its business forward and move up a gear - with the promise of a substantial jobs boost for Coventry. The global leader in the design and manufacture of steering systems is looking to double its turnover, create jobs at its base and the local supply chain, as well as move to a new pounds 9million facility in the city.

These impressive new goals were revealed after bosses at the firm picked up the Medium to Large Business accolade at the Coventry Telegraph's 18th annual awards last week.

It adds to a clutch of awards already won by the manufacturer - which year-on-year continues to impress business leaders across Coventry and Warwickshire with its substantial growth.

Pailton's new five-year plan should create 241 extra jobs at the company alone, along with an additional 150 in the supply chain - and the expansion programme will require a total investment of more than pounds 32million.

This will include the development costs for new specialised power steering, wiper systems and axles - as well as investment in new premises, plant and machinery.

John Nollett, managing director at Pailton, said: "Pailton's directors have confidence in their ability to deliver the plan over an accelerated five years period. The plan is ambitious but achievable."

In order to achieve these ambitious plans, the company has appointed Geoffrey Robinson as a new non-executive director.

The MP is joining the board at a crucial time in Pailton's history - with the company aiming to double its turnover from pounds 19million to pounds 40million by 2016 and further reinforcing its position as a truly global brand.

Mr Robinson said: "Manufacturing is the lifeblood of the UK economy and Pailton Engineering is a marvellous example of a company which is exporting UK engineering excellence around the world.

"It's doing everything that the country needs; creating jobs, training apprentices and adding to Britain's balance of payments by exporting.

"It is exactly the sort of enterprise which will help the UK to come out of recession." The Coventry North West MP brings a wealth of experience to the role - as a former chief executive of iconic Jaguar Cars in Coventry. He also served as paymaster-general in the Treasury in Tony Blair's first government.

For much of his 36-year parliamentary career, Mr Robinson has continued with business interests, mainly in manufacturing. Part of his role will see him steer the business through applying for pounds 5million of support from the coalition government's Regional Growth Fund.

He added: "Funding from the Regional Growth Fund will help Pailton Engineering to grow and thrive, and make an invaluable contribution to the vitality of Midlands manufacturing in the future."

Mr Nollett added: "I am delighted that Geoffrey Robinson has agreed to become a non-executive director. and I am sure his advice will be invaluable in the months and years to come.

"These are exciting times for Pailton Engineering; I have long believed that the UK leads the world in engineering excellence and our expansion plans are the next step on our way to becoming a truly global brand.

"Support from the Regional Growth Fund will enable us to carry out our expansion plans in half the time that we would otherwise be able to - in five years instead of ten, bringing a welcome boost to the local economy."

With a world-wide reputation for the design and manufacture of steering systems, Pailton enjoyed considerable success during the recession, recording growth of 17 per cent in 2010, and of seven per cent even in the doldrums of 2009.

In 2010, it also landed its biggest-ever single purchase order, for military vehicle manufacturer Force Protection.

Its remarkable achievements led to Pailton being named as Company of the Year and Manufacturing Company of the Year in the Birmingham Post Business Awards - as well as last year's Manufacturer of the Year in the Coventry Telegraph Business Awards.

Mr Nollett was earlier listed in the '42 Under 42' roll of young business leaders in the Insider Media awards - where he was named International Entrepreneur of the Year.

And in line with Pailton's ethos of investing in people as well as equipment, there will also be a company-wide training programme to ensure the skill set is increased, and a boost to the management capabilities of the sales team.

Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "This is great news for the regional economy. Pailton Engineering are a great success story and we are delighted that they will be expanding here.

"The fact that this will bring further jobs and investment to Coventry - especially in manufacturing - is a fantastic boost too."

CAPTION(S):

WINNING COMBINATION: The team celebrates picking up the best Medium to Large Business accolade at last week's Coventry Telegraph Business Awards and (right) John Nollett with MP Geoffrey Robinson PRECISION MADE: Dale Cole on the steering column finishing line at Pailton Engineering in Holbrooks Lane