CASE STUDIES
Bootle Containers

Client

Bootle Containers

Brief

Refurbishing its Bootle facility and adding an extension

Feature taken from PREMIER CONSTRUCTION

“Dark, damp and Dickensian”, is Mike Moran's verdict on the former premises of his firm, Bootle Containers. The firm is undergoing an expansion by refurbishing its Bootle facility and adding a welcome extension, the first stage of which has almost reached completion under contractor Pioneer Construction.

“Before we began improving our factory, the place was dull and grim. It wasn't a particularly dangerous or dirty place to work, but you felt claustrophobic and there wasn't enough light. One of the biggest problems that posed was that it was difficult to show potential and current clients around so that they could see how we make our products”.

The company employs 38 full-time staff and manufactures containers for clients in four main sectors: military and defence, emergency services, the oil and gas industry and the environmental industry. Once complete, the new facility will streamline the firm's production process.

Currently, the firm produces units that typically range from 10ft to 63ft in length, many of which are bespoke creations, at the rate of 30 per month. Each client will demand precise specifications and fittings, and so flexibility on the production line is vital. The extra space, Mike notes, goes hand in hand with the need to be adaptable.

Mike added, “The first port of the job is to refurbish the original building, which is around 30 years old. We're replacing the old asbestos-lined roof with a Kingspan roof with light panels, and we're re-cladding the exterior to create 10 roller-shutter doors. Production flow will change to reflect the new space we’ll be using, and having more space will allow us to better separate the different stages of production.

“Eventually, the new build will fit on to the original. The land it's built on was previously used for container storage and leasing, but we don't need it for that any more. The building is not what you would picture when you think of a typical extension, but that’s effectively what it is.

“We'll use the new space for raw steel, blasting and painting, amongst other things. One of our aims is to become a 'one-stop- shop' in our field, and offer in-house the kind of services we currently have to send out to subcontractors, such as electrical and air-conditioning installations within the units. It's a huge thing to be able to offer to a client, and I’m confident it will be good for business.

“Another thing we can now do is to invite clients to our facility with pride. As I speak to you, we've had three visits today alone, even though work isn't completely finished. That’s far more than we could have hoped for previously, and it’s another positive sign.”

Mike had plenty of praise to bestow on Pioneer Construction, saying, “We wanted to appoint a contractor who could offer the best value – not just in terms of currency, but also in terms of achievement. I’ve been encouraged by Pioneer and I'd have no hesitation in listening to proposals from them for any future work we do”.

Although Bootle Containers have provided the lion's share of the funds needed to complete the expansion, a welcome cash injection has been added to the pot. £20,000 came from the local project Stepclever, which aims to “transform areas of north Liverpool and south Sefton into a place for new entrepreneurs and successful, outward looking businesses”.

Stepclever is a Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) and is government funded. Managed in partnership by Liverpool City Council and Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, the core activities of Stepclever are delivered through a team of highly- skilled business managers who offer essential support and advice to those thinking of becoming self-employed, and the scheme extends to SMEs wishing to expand.

To find out more about Stepclever, visit www.stepclever.co.uk. You can also learn more about Bootle Containers at www.bootlecontainers.co.uk