68 ROSSENDALE
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“There are a lot of established businesses that we’ve acted for, for many years. We have many loyal clients and they see Rossendale as a good area to be.”
Jac Jordan, from Rossendale based Viva, believes there are numerous reasons why people choose to live, work and have their businesses in the borough.
She says: “There is the quality of life and the outdoor living that we have on our doorstep. It is within easy access to Manchester if you wanted to get there, but we have great facilities here as well.”
Looking at its town regeneration plans she adds: “If we get that right, people will want to stay so there won’t be a brain drain.
“We want to attract high quality skilled jobs to Rossendale, which means that we need the facilities and the environment here for those businesses to come and locate here, relocate here or stay here and expand. That’s really important.”
When it comes to skills, Andrew Dewhurst, vice principal at Accrington and Rossendale College, is on a mission “To make sure our young people, adults, employees, people looking to get back into work, know just what they’ve got right here.
“We’re immensely privileged and proud that we are the only outstanding Ofsted college in Lancashire and have been for 20 years running. We are right here on the door-step and not everybody knows that, so getting that message out there is really key.
“In terms of Lancashire Adult Learning, we are the number one college for adult learning, based on achievement, in the country and it’s right here in the valley. You can go to a course around the corner tomorrow.”
He adds: “We have an absolutely state-of- the-art cyber centre going into Accrington and Rossendale campus.
“We see tremendous ambition in the area and in the valley and that’s not just businesses.
“Whether it is learners coming out of the school system, looking at their next steps, whether it’s mums and dads looking to get back into the labour market and upskill, whether it’s employers looking at continuous professional development for their employees, there’s tremendous ambition here.
“And what better place can you live and work and enjoy life than somewhere like the valley? It’s absolutely tremendous, a hidden gem.”
The WSR Medical Solutions team
MEDICAL FIRM WITH GLOBAL AMBITIONS
A long-established Haslingden company that supplies X-ray protection wear to the NHS is targeting global markets.
WSR Medical Solutions is the UK’s leading manufacturer of lead aprons for radiographers, which it supplies to more than 700 hospitals under the Rothband brand.
The company also offers other protective equipment such as curtains, glasses and doors as well as a wide range of X-ray machines and accessories.
In recent years it has expanded its product range and has moved into the veterinary sector where it supplies a number of major chains.
Established in 1860 by WS Rothband, the business was family-run until 2015 when
levels and turnaround times and produce designs to order.
It is the third round it has received from Mercia Debt, which backed the buy-out of the business in 2015 using funding from Lancashire Rosebud Finance and has since provided additional funding for growth.
Paul Dixon, managing director of WSR Medical Solutions, says: “The Rothband brand has an impressive heritage. Having started out selling rubber sheets, the company came up with the idea of using leaded rubber and was the first to produce lead aprons in 1910 for the emerging X-ray industry.
“Today we continue to expand and want to make its name known internationally. The funding will enable us to offer bespoke products and give us greater flexibility to
Today we continue to expand and want to make its name known internationally. The funding will enable us to offer bespoke
products and give us greater flexibility to cater for the needs of a global client base
it was acquired by Paul Dixon, a former employee and qualified radiographer.
Its export expansion is being boosted by a £350,000 loan from NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia Debt as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II).
Currently international sales make up around 15 per cent of turnover, however it plans to expand that and is setting up a network of distributors.
The funding from NPIF II will enable it to invest in new printing equipment, in line with its strategy to carry out printing in house.
Rawtenstall library
This will help to increase its range of patterned fabrics, enabling it to reduce stock
cater for the needs of a global client base.”
David Wright of Mercia Debt says: “WSR Medical Solutions is a historic Lancashire company that has continued to adapt and innovate throughout the years.
“Under Paul’s leadership, it has gained a new lease of life. We have worked with him from the start to help him acquire and expand the business and are pleased to support the company’s latest plans to bring the brand to an international audience.”
The £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II) covers the entire North of England and provides loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead.
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