WORCESTER, UK, Mar 7, 2025 – Wickens Engineering Ltd is targeting £20M in revenues after it completed a £1M improvement project in its paint shop, giving it the capability to powder coat 8-metre-long steel beams for the first time.
The latest phase of the investment drive was supported by consultancy through the Elevate Manufacturing Program, which included a revenue grant that played a key role in driving change.
The project enabled the business to adapt its processes, improve efficiency, reduce solvent paint usage and maximize production capacity. In addition, Wickens received grant funding for capital equipment, allowing the much-needed project to be implemented six months ahead of schedule.
Mark Rawlings, operations director at Wickens, commented: “We have seen strong growth in recent years, with turnover up £3m after orders from clients in the automotive, marine, recycling, construction and retail sectors.”
“Our paint shop was reaching capacity, so we knew we had to do something about it, deciding to embark on a £1m investment in automation equipment. As part of the GROWTHmapper exercise we did with the Elevate Manufacturing Program, we identified solutions that would unlock capacity and allow us to offer a new service to customers.”
He continued: “We can powder coat up to 8-metres in length now and this is proving very popular with our clients, who span the length and breadth of the UK.”
Faced with several business challenges that come with the manufacturing territory, the leadership team turned to external assistance, firstly from the Worcestershire Growth Hub and then one-to-one assistance from the Worcestershire Council-funded Elevate Manufacturing Program.
The latter appointed a manufacturing growth manager to work with Mark on identifying barriers to growth and a range of business improvement projects, which ranged from the paint shop upgrade to upskilling the workforce.
“There’s so many different business support out there that it can get quite confusing and time consuming trying to find the right ones that will work for your company,” added Mark.
“Worcestershire SMEs are blessed that we have a very proactive Growth Hub and the Elevate Manufacturing Program, who collaborate very closely to ensure manufacturers get access to dedicated support.”
“It has made a massive difference to us operationally and will be a big boost commercially. They also signposted us to Skills Boost, which helped us fund Business Improvement and effective leadership training for more than ten people. The external support has been a real big plus for us.”
The Elevate Manufacturing Program aims to support SME manufacturing businesses in understanding their short, medium and long-term improvement goals.
It has worked with more than 30 companies in the region to improve productivity, competitiveness, sustainability and to adopt new products or services through digital adoption.
Each firm has access to the GROWTHmapper business diagnostic tool and grants of up to 40% towards the total cost of a project. There is also a calendar of manufacturing workshops covering topics from digital manufacturing to supply chain management.
Jas Raju, manufacturing growth manager with the Elevate Manufacturing Program, concluded, “Wickens is a well-established family business that continues to grow in Worcester, creating jobs and contributing to the local economy. Through the Program, we’ve helped them identify key areas for improvement and access funding to accelerate their expansion towards a £20m turnover by 2028.”
Councilor Adam Kent, Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member for economy and skills, added, “We are delighted to see Wickens Engineering Ltd flourish through the Elevate Manufacturing Program. This success story truly demonstrates the power of tailored support to help businesses in our region tap into their full potential, streamline their operations and drive sustainable long-term growth.”
Source: Wickens
About Wickens Engineering Ltd.
Wickens Engineering Ltd, established in 1978, specializes in designing, manufacturing, and installing bespoke industrial racking and heavy-duty storage systems. Wickens has been a trusted name in the industrial racking sector for more than 40 years, with its solutions adopted by boat yards, steel stockholders and tooling manufacturers. Household retailers are another major user of its bespoke offer. Their product range includes cantilever racking, structural pallet racking, vertical racking, and rack-clad buildings, catering to industries such as timber, steel, and automotive. As of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, Wickens Engineering reported total assets of £5.55 million and net assets of £1.77 million. The company is ISO 9001:2015 certified, ensuring adherence to quality management standards. Their in-house specialists include professional engineers, skilled fabrication technicians, and project managers, all dedicated to delivering high-quality, customized storage solutions.