ABUSINESS that makes sure luxury car owners are sitting comfortably is in the driving seat for expansion after a move into bigger premises on a popular industrial estate.
Seat Design Company – which designs seats for cars like the Bentley Continental GT Cabrio and the Aston Martin Rapide – is moving into a bigger home at Amber Business Centre, in Riddings.
The move means it will more than double the amount of space it occupies. Where it previously leased a 10,500 sq ft unit, it is taking on more than 25,000 sq ft of space in a deal secured by Nottingham property consultancy FHP, with NG Chartered Surveyors acting as joint agents.
The firm, known as SDC, said it was keen to stay in the area so that it could maintain the skill and expertise of its existing team, which has increased from 20 to 31 over the past 12 months, thanks to a series of new business wins that have driven its growth.
Tim Walker, finance director and one of the company's founders, said: "I'd known for a while that we needed bigger space.
"We are really happy with the Amber Business Centre, and luckily there was a bigger unit available. The company was set up 10 years ago and we've been at the centre since the beginning.
"This move is a really big moment for us. We've worked hard over the last 10 years to establish a strong reputation as a specialist seat designer with low-volume manufacture capability, and it's really paying off. We've just won new contracts in the automotive, rail and medical sectors, hence why we need more space."
SDC designs seats, builds prototypes and can also manufacture in low volumes. Some of the prestige projects it has worked on include designing and producing prototype rear seats for the Bentley Continental GT Cabrio in the space of two weeks, and designing and developing the rear seats for the Rapide, Aston Martin's return to four-door motoring.
The hi-tech company also carries out work for aerospace giants such as BAE Systems and major manufacturers like Lear Corporation.
Tim added: "I think the reason we've been so successful is because we invest heavily in staff training and equipment. This year, we're investing over £100,000 in new equipment which will further increase our manufacturing capability and we have plans to invest another £100,000 later this year."
Laura West, of FHP, says SDC is just one of many success stories at Amber Business Centre. "We've got a real mix of fantastic local and national companies on this estate, including ETS, Parker Knoll and Bow Distribution and Warehousing. The estate has a mix of small and large units, so it offers a flexible option for growing companies.
"I'm really pleased for SDC. Its success is well deserved and it's great that the business has been able to grow with the Amber Business Centre.
"Before the move into the current unit, the company occupied a number of smaller units, which it had gradually acquired over the last few years. This step-by-step approach can help take away a company's growing pains."
Henry Henson, of NG Chartered Surveyors, said: "The Amber Business Centre is a popular destination for local businesses. Importantly, it is close to the A38 and A610, as well as junctions 26, 27 and 28 of the M1, which is key to the success of the companies at the estate."
Since the current landlord took on the estate three years ago, the occupancy rate has risen from 60 per cent to just over 90 per cent.
The centre is managed by Commercial Estates Group, which has focused on offering support and flexible lease terms to tenants.
Asset manager Antonia Martin-Wright said: "We pride ourselves on offering small and medium-sized businesses good value and support to help them develop. Our lease terms are flexible, and we can arrange for rents to be paid at times that suit our tenants. It's the simple things like this that can really help companies like SDC – a great example of one of the businesses that has grown with us."
Of 58 units on the estate, 55 are now fully let and Laura and Henry say they are aiming for 100 per cent occupancy by the summer.
