Bespoke kitchen specialist Manor Interiors is to boost production at its Swindon manufacturing plant by 50% after investing £1m in new hi-tech machinery.
The increased capacity will create up to six jobs and enable Manor to expand its contracts business with some of the UK’s largest housebuilders as well as growing its network of showrooms. 
The family-owned firm has also launched a new range of kitchen cabinets inspired by popular German styles on the back of the investment, which was funded using a £600,000 hire purchase facility from Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance and a grant through the Regional Growth Fund.
The investment will help it meet an upturn in demand from both residential developers and domestic customers.
Established in 1996, Manor has since grown to a £10m turnover business and one the UK’s leading kitchen furniture manufacturers with showrooms across England and Wales.
It employs 106 people at its 70,000 sq ft Greenbridge factory who design, manufacture and install more than 2,500 kitchens a year.
The funding has enabled it to buy new edge banders, routers and a state-of-the-art automated stacking system.
Managing director Terry McPartlan said: “The quality and technology of the new machinery allows us to bring modem continental style products to the market that are very popular at the moment.
“It will also further improve the quality of the cabinets that we use across all our modern and traditional ranges.
“We have seen a significant upturn in both retail sales through our network of showrooms and our contracts division, which supplies the top end housing developers nationwide.
“Hire purchase was a good option for us in this case as it saves cashflow. Lloyds has put a great package together for us and was very helpful.”
Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance regional manager, HP & leasing, Lesley Williams, said: “Manor is a longstanding customer and it is great to be able to support the updating of its factory machinery, which will help reduce its costs.
“I was able to work together with my commercial banking colleague Paul McKenna of the manufacturing team to fund the new machinery and fulfil the customer’s needs
“For SMEs buying new machinery, a hire purchase facility is ideal as it allows them to upgrade their equipment and pay the loan back over a set period of time, which means the investment does not impact the firm’s daily activity.”
Manor also does all its day-to-day business banking through Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.
Its products are sold through its network of three branded showrooms in Hale, Cheltenham and Swindon, 12 showrooms operated by sister company Optiplan and selected independent kitchen specialist nationwide.
The Government-backed Regional Growth Fund scheme supports private sector projects to create economic growth and sustainable employment.
Pictured, from left: Paul McKenna, Lloyds Bank; Irene Smith, Manor company secretary; Terry McPartlan, Manor MD; Craig Morrison, Manor head of operations; and Lesley Williams, Lloyds Bank, with one of Manor’s kitchen displays
