Plywood & Timber Centres (UK) Ltd has acquired 11,500 sq ft premises at Ashmount Business Park in Swansea where it has invested over £100,000 on advanced technology and equipment, and adapted the premises as a distribution centre for its specialised plywood and timber products. Cooke & Arkwright acted on behalf of the landlord, Hermes Real Estate Investment in the deal.
Founder Bill Thomas has spent 36 years in the wood products industry and has extensive knowledge of the products and brands as well as customers’ commercial and environmental needs. Formerly the timber trading director for both Jewson & International timber (SGBD Group) where he spent many years travelling the country, Mr Thomas spotted a gap in the market in his home town of Swansea to provide an expert local service with national reach.
“In my experience, the personal touch is something that has been lacking in the big national and global firms,” he said. “Plywood & Timber Centres provide a central point of expertise with excellent products competitively priced. The core ingredient is an individually tailored, friendly and accommodating service. As a location, Ashmount Business Park is ideal for us. It has excellent car parking facilities, main road frontage, and it is located on the established and commercial area of Swansea Enterprise Park. The fabric of the building was in good condition and the landlord has been very helpful throughout.”
Jeremy Symons, Director with Cooke & Arkwright’s Business Space agency said, “This is an excellent letting for the estate and the occupation of the front unit is useful for attracting business for existing tenants. We are pleased to have brokered a good deal for this expanding business.”
PTC has taken on nine new staff members and anticipates employing a further two people in the short term. In-house training is provided to equip staff with industry specific skills. It has been supported by Jobs Growth Wales and Go Wales, which specialises in helping graduates to find employment, and also the Local Investment Fund South West Wales.
The firm’s client base is small to medium sized builders and specialist niche joinery manufacturers and shop fitters. Mr Thomas is optimistic about the future. “I see our opportunity in being the ‘supplier of choice’,” he said. “We build strong relationships with our clients. In today’s market, big business is like a super-tanker and can be slow to adapt, while SMEs can be fleet of foot which gives them a commercial edge. We have a good contact base in south and west Wales as well as throughout the UK, and we are well placed to expand our business.”
Plywood & Timber Centres has recently undergone a successful Audit for Chain of Custody Certification FSC and PEFC, enabling customers to make purchases safe in the knowledge that they are both legally and sustainably sourced timber and panel products.