A BUILDERS’ merchant is constructing a new future in Kirklees.
AW Lumb is moving from Ossett to Dewsbury as part of a £2.75m expansion plan to create up to 20 jobs.
The company, which has been based at Sunnydale Mills, Fellowsides Lane, since 1968, was set to make the move in June, but the theft of copper wiring from its new premises has delayed the move to Mill Street East until July.
Chairman and managing director John Cureton said: “We are investing £2.75m in this new site, just south of Dewsbury town centre – and while the theft has set us back a few weeks, we are very much looking forward to getting into our new home.
“We will have a lot more room, which means we’ll be able to expand our product and will be looking at increasing our workforce.”
The company has about 55 employees and expects to recruit about 20 more workers over coming months.
Mr Cureton added: “By the end of June we will be looking at running down the stock levels in Ossett while at the same time building up those in Dewsbury before we officially open.
“A lot of our clients are national builders working locally and we generally deliver direct to them.
“Our new home will make our deliveries far easier because the access is superb, but as part of our expansion plans we also want to encourage the smaller builder to come to us.”
The company, which also has a depot in Tamworth, Staffordshire, has also invested heavily in its fleet of HGVs and depots.
Mr Cureton said: “The company has been trading since 1964 and Ossett has been our home for 40 of those years – so our move is not only a really exciting development, but a major commitment for the business.”
