No time to relax for local furniture manufacturer

RDA’s Business Development Manager Julie Evans is pictured with owner Simon Marples

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Sitraben Contract Furniture moved to Middleton’s Stakehill Business Park last year and has now opened a 1,000 square foot showroom displaying a wide range of furniture to cater for restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels.

Husband and wife team Simon and Tracy Marples set the business up in 2005, providing furniture to businesses across the UK. They moved to a 15,000 square foot site on Stakehill last summer so they could bring their manufacturing and sales operation under one roof.

Tracy said: “We had two sites in Crumpsall and Bury and needed to combine them. We chose Stakehill because of its great access to the motorway and also because of the size of unit that was available. It flows really well and we can now give customers a full tour, demonstrating how we manufacture the furniture so they understand what’s involved and how we achieve the end product that’s exactly right for them.

“Since moving here we’ve gone from strength to strength and if we need to expand again we’ll stay here and do it on Stakehill.”

In the last year almost 300 jobs have been created on the business park as a result of property being taken up by businesses including Comfy Quilts and the delivery company Yodel.

Chief Executive of Rochdale Development Agency, John Hudson, said: “Stakehill has attracted some excellent businesses in the last twelve months and with the commitment of CEG, who took over around 50 units on the site, things are definitely improving.

"As Tracy says, it’s in a great location and when the site is fully occupied over 3,000 people will be employed there.

"There are still units available so we hope that with the commitment of ourselves and CEG, the next twelve months is as successful as the last.”