A LONG-ESTABLISHED family-run engineering company in south Warwickshire is preparing for growth.
Henley Engineers, founded in 1942 and based in Henley-in-Arden, worked closely with Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub to modernise its operations, upgrade its digital infrastructure and identify new market opportunities including a strategic move into the military supply chain.
The business, which manufactures and fabricates detailed components for the commercial vehicle sector, employs 30 staff across its Henley site and a second facility in Redditch for larger components.
Henley Engineers currently has an annual turnover of £2.5 million, and is now positioning itself for diversification and scaling up.
Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub provided support and guidance about grant opportunities to accelerate their plans.
This included a successful application for a £20,000 grant towards a £70,000 investment in a new system bringing procurement, sales, marketing and operations onto one platform.
Work with the Warwick Manufacturing Group has further supported upgrades to IT infrastructure and digital manufacturing processes following an expert review of the company’s equipment and workflow.
Managing director Nick Warmington, who joined Henley Engineers as a 16-year-old engineering apprentice before becoming the fourth generation to lead the company, said: “We’re pitching the business to the military supply chain and meeting the standards needed to supply into that sector.
“The support from the Growth Hub and its partners has been critical in helping us prepare the business for this next step.
“Digitising our processes, investing in automation and improving workflow has completely changed the culture of the business. We’re more efficient, more productive and better positioned for growth.”
Henley Engineers is also strengthening its future workforce pipeline. With current apprentices nearing completion, the firm plans to recruit two new fabrication welding apprentices next September, and is meeting with Stratford College and Coventry College.
The business is finalising a new website, installing solar panels to improve its carbon footprint and continuing to refine its factory layout and workflow with support from regional partners.
Nina Bale from Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub with Mike Beirns from Henley Engineers.
