New home labelled a success

Nov 18 2009 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette

A TEES Valley labelling company is growing through the recession and investing more than £400,000 in a move to new and larger premises.

First Choice Labels has been based for seven years in UK Steel Enterprise’s Innovation Centre at Redcar.

But the nine-strong team has finally outgrown the space available there and moved into its own unit on the Kirkleatham Business Park.

The company produces millions of labels each month for a wide variety of customers including the world’s major steel companies, several high street pharmacies and food producers across the country.

It also manufactures labels for such brands as Fosters Lager and Smirnoff.

“We have trebled our space to around 9,000sq ft and invested in a new printing press that means we can now compete with the top 5% of the UK’s labelling companies in terms of the services and products we can offer,” said managing director Nigel Willis.

An initial contract with Corus, UK Steel Enterprise’s parent company, proved crucial in opening up the steel market for First Choice and they are currently expecting a significant new order from the Argentinian steel industry.

Mr Willis added: “UKSE helped us to expand a number of times but we finally had to admit that we had outgrown the Innovation Centre.

“It was quite an emotional move for us after seven years at the Innovation Centre.

“The whole UKSE team has been absolutely brilliant and we would not be where we are today without their input and the centre’s facilities.

“In our very first month we had no orders at all but in this financial year we will record an 11% growth, our turnover will hit seven figures, we have a great team in place and new premises.”

Mr Willis added: “Like every company we have to work through this recession but we were determined to be positive and pro-active.”

UKSE regional manager Simon Hamilton said: “It has been a real pleasure to support First Choice Labels and see them go from strength.

“We will miss them but our aim is to help businesses in the early years and we are looking forward to welcoming new tenants in their place.”