Pictured: Surjit Kooner of Midven (left) and Mark Prince of
Silverdale (right) with some of the workforce at
Silverdale
Silverdale Bathrooms Ltd, a new company supported by Midven'
Exceed Partnership and Skipton Business Finance, has acquired a
Newcastle-under-Lyme ceramic manufacturing business, under license
from the Jacuzzi Group.
The Silverdale site, in the heart of the Staffordshire
Potteries, has been manufacturing high-end ceramic bathroom pieces
for almost 30 years, and will continue to manufacture the luxury B
C Sanitan and Jacuzzi ceramic products marketed to bathroom
specialists throughout Europe. The B C Sanitan brand has been
included in the purchase and will be supplied in future directly
from the new company. The Jacuzzi brand will be manufactured under
licence and continue to be supplied via Jacuzzi UK. In addition,
the company has been developing its ceramic sink capabilities over
the past 12 month and production is set to expand significantly
over the next twelve months.
Silverdale is one of the few remaining ceramic factories
manufacturing in the UK and has retained its highly skilled
craftsmen who make fine vitrified china bathroom pieces that are
exported worldwide. The range includes white and coloured ceramic
pieces and the company has a proud history in offering an efficient
local service to its retail customers.
The deal, for an undisclosed sum, will safeguard 50 jobs and
create more as the customer service and kitchen sink activities are
scaled up.
Surjit Kooner, Investment Director of Midven, who oversaw the
firm's investment, said the investment was great news for the
Staffordshire Potteries - and the UK as a whole.
"This is a sector in which this region excels - and it is great
news that not only have jobs been secured but that the company's
prospects are looking bright. Silverdale will be operating from a
well laid out manufacturing facility producing high quality, hand
crafted products with an industry experienced management team," he
said.
Silverdale will be led by Mark Prince, former managing director
of Jacuzzi UK, and Dave Tutton, former marketing director, both of
whom have invested in the new company.
Mr Prince said he was delighted that the management team had
been successful in securing the future of the ceramic factory.
"Some of the potters, who have worked at this site for many
years, have a skill passed down from past generations. High quality
British-made products are in demand - and we aim to fulfil that
need. Our core ethos will be to produce 'world best' British
ceramic products and provide the very best of service to our long
term supporting retailers. It's a great project to be both
leading and supporting and we are all very excited about our
future."
Yorkshire law firm Gordons advised the management
team.
For more information about Midven, please visit their website
here: www.midven.co.uk