Group Rhodes relocates in Wakefield and creates 21 new jobs

Advanced engineering firm Group Rhodes is celebrating relocating to new premises at Calder Vale and increasing its workforce.
Roger Marsh, Chairman of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), officially opened the new Calder Vale site for Group Rhodes on July 4.Roger Marsh, Chairman of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), officially opened the new Calder Vale site for Group Rhodes on July 4.
Roger Marsh, Chairman of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), officially opened the new Calder Vale site for Group Rhodes on July 4.

It has refurbished and re-equipped its new manufacturing facility and has created 21 new jobs.

Group Rhodes secured a £70,000 Leeds City Region LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) grant, which helped to create the new roles.

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LEP chairman Roger Marsh officially opened the new Calder Vale site on July 4.

He said: “This is an exciting time for Group Rhodes as the business relocates onto one site, right in the heart of Wakefield.

The grant has enabled the company to grow even further, creating several new employment opportunities in the area. The new factory gives a fantastic view of modern manufacturing and we wish Group Rhodes all the best for the future.”

The new site is only half a mile from where the business was founded in 1824.

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To celebrate the move, Group Rhodes held an open day, which consisted of a factory tour for around 200 customers, suppliers and other stakeholders, followed by a presentation by Mark Ridgway, CEO of Group Rhodes and the official opening.

Speakers at the event included Richard Halstead, EEF membership engagement director, North, who spoke about the importance of manufacturing to the UK, and Roger Marsh discussed the regional economy before unveiling a plaque to officially open the site.

Mr Ridgway, CEO of Group Rhodes, said: “The Open Day marks an important milestone in our company’s history and demonstrates our investment in the company’s future. By operating from these purpose-equipped premises and with access to the latest technology and equipment, we can now collaborate even better as a business and extend our growth into new UK and international markets, creating further prosperity in this region. We are very excited about what the future holds for all our staff and our business.”

The relocation and investment has significantly improved the operational environment for both office and production staff at Group Rhodes. The factory environment is much lighter and more modern and the office layout allows the different commercial divisions of the company to work more closely together. The new layout should have benefits for customers too, allowing Group Rhodes to offer improved cover for technical enquiries, telephone support and service provision, with engineers regularly supporting other divisions, as necessary.

The group’s new IT systems also provide better communication between factory and offices, with the intention of real time mapping of production flows.

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