Co-op Clothing set to double in size

May 12 2008 by Chris Knox, The Journal

A COMPANY that provides uniforms ranging from nurses outfits to bullet proof jackets has moved out of its Gateshead home after almost 100 years as it looks to double the size of its business by 2012.

The Co-operative Clothing, which began its life selling shirts and pyjamas, traded from its previous base in Pelaw for 98 years before recently moving into a new site in Washington in order to expand its operations and help double its turnover.

The relocation doubles the firm’s floor space to 40,000sq ft, which it hopes will double its production to around 80,000 garments each week as well as add around 45 jobs to its 65-strong workforce during the four-year period.

The firm provides uniforms to a range of different sectors, including hospitals, construction sites and the security industry, where it supplies its bullet proof range.

Paul Slocombe, managing director, said: “We have a long and distinguished history of supplying workplace clothing, especially in the North East, where I would say most people who wear some kind of uniform, wear one of our garments.

“At Washington we’ve got 50% more storage than we had at Pelaw, allowing us to increase our stock, and so improve the service we can offer our customers. We remain very much part of the Co-operative Movement, and we will ensure it has an exciting future.”

It is also investing £1m in new technology at the new site at the Stephenson Industrial Estate and hopes to get its supply chain fully automated by the end of the year.

Although the firm, previously known as both Robert Howarth and the CWS Shirt and Pyjama Factory, still supplies shirts to office workers it no longer specialises in the nightwear with which it made its name. Mr Slocombe said: “Thankfully we don’t have to sell pyjamas anymore.

“Once we moved into the specialist world of uniforms we knew that it wouldn’t look very good to continue making PJs alongside bulletproof vests.”

In keeping with the Co-operative’s ethical and environmental policies, the firm, which imports the bulk of its stock from the Far East and Eastern Europe, also plans to implement ways of ensuring that its staff’s work standards are tracked and has promised to offset its carbon emissions.