I visited Roo Engineering Ltd yesterday, based on Lymedale Business Park in Milehouse. I met with Managing Director James Rigby and Financial Executive Abbi Rigby, who are the husband and wife team behind the business, along with their Business Development Manager, Gary Redfern.
James brings 20 years of experience in engineering, specialising in sheet metal, fabrication and engineering solutions, while Abbi has a background in accounting and purchasing, and also oversees HR. Their services range from design, to sheet metal work, to fabrication and powder coating. Primarily it is business to business, but the company can do bespoke work – if you can draw it, then they can cut it.
The Company is fast growing, doubling in size and tripling in turnover in the last 6 months of 2020. They also have separate premises in Stoke for the powder coating facility. They are keen to grow the workforce and have recently taken on two apprentices, one is concentrating on business administration and is office based, and the other is their first female working on the shop floor, doing an apprenticeship in welding.
80% of their business is using mild steel, and they are seeing a real rise in bringing business back from China, as they are finding that customers are increasingly wanting products made in Britain. Investment has recently been made in LED lighting (which they received a grant for), and around 12 months ago they purchased a new Bystronic fibre laser cutting machine, both of which have contributed to reducing their carbon emissions.
I was shown the process of sheet metal fabrication for some current projects, which include shelving for end user stores such as Wickes and materials for camper van conversions. They were also able to continue working throughout the pandemic, as they won a major contract to manufacture hand sanitiser holders.