Herefordshire County companies in job creation projects (From Hereford Times)

Herefordshire County companies in job creation projects

4:12pm Friday 16th January 2009 in Business

A HEREFORD business is defying the economic slump by expanding.

Central Group, which owns Central Roofing and Building Services on Holmer Road, has bought Shrewsbury-based Erect a Scaffold.

Thirteen staff have been taken on in Hereford already, with more expected to join once the operation is in full swing.

Central Group has invested £250,000 on five new HGVs and renting land beside Central Roofing’s Holmer base to set up the venture. New offices have been bought in Shrewsbury, from where the company will also operate, with 12 additional new jobs.

“We already have new staff on board and five new vehicles,” said Graham Neal, head of corporate development at Central Roofing.

Scaffolders and admin staff have joined, with further employees to be recruited as the company expands and scaffold work, needed by Central Roofing, is taken on by Erect a Scaffold.

“The service means we can integrate better and provide a better all-round service to our customers,” added Mr Neal.

And, despite the turbulent economic climate, Mr Neal says the roofing business has continued to defy the odds.

“Touch wood, we’ve been doing very well and had a lot of work.

“Where new opportunities arise such as this and they fit within our core business or complement our existing businesses, we will continue to look to invest and expand.”

Erect a Scaffold’s first project will be to scaffold 13 tower blocks for Birmingham City Council, which are being refurbished by Central Roofing.

Phil Perry, chairman of Central Group, said: “We are very pleased to add Erect a Scaffold to Central Group. It will strengthen the Group and continue to raise our profile with our major customers.”

Last autumn, Central Roofing was granted permission for a helicopter landing pad at its base to attract potential business clients.

Meanwhile, Leominster-based learning co-operative and teacher training provider, the Robert Owen Society, is creating up to six jobs, resulting from re-structuring, designed to improve the quality of services to students and customers. Positions include a trainee welfare officer, quality manager, ICT manager and admissions clerk.