Richmond Cabinet Company Ltd’s social commitment to tackling youth unemployment in South Wales has been recognised by winning a wealth of substantial public housing sector contracts with local authorities, making it the only kitchen company based outside of Wales to have a significant presence in the region.
“Three years ago we invested in a small facility in the region employing four people,” says Dan Rushton, Group Sales Director, “By developing a partnership with Grow Enterprise Wales (GrEW) we have been able to increase our workforce, offering training and ultimately jobs to some of the region’s young people, many of whom are second or third generation unemployed.
“We’ve had a huge success with this relationship and have since taken the opportunity to move our kitchen assembly operation to their training depot. This will provide jobs for up to ten young people, giving them the prospect to develop sound working habits coupled with practical assembly skills. Wherever possible we’re also trying to add value by offering additional services, these include plot deliveries and the recycling of the redundant kitchens removed from properties. All will contribute significantly to our ability to further increase the workforce”
Richmond is a wholly owned subsidiary of the reputable, privately owned Regency Group. The family business is renowned for the quality of its superior kitchens. Since its establishment in 1987, with roots dating back to the mid 1940’s, Richmond has grown a solid reputation as a provider to the specific needs of the contract kitchen market, supplying specialist ranges for the public housing sector, private developer market and trade merchants. The successful company recognises the importance of providing quality, best value products, delivered on time, in full and within budget, to win and keep clients.
As well as supplying high volume public housing contracts, Richmond also supplies national building companies such as Persimmon Homes and manufactures its own retail brand. Beyond kitchens, Richmond manufactures a wide range of fire suites and is a specialist supplier of gaming cabinets to the gaming industry.
Dan admits the furniture manufacturing industry as a whole has suffered over the last few years particularly with the spiralling cost of wood. “This has primarily been driven by the Government’s agenda regarding biomass fuel,” he says. “As more and more biomass plants take advantage of the Government subsidies to procure wood, it becomes a classic case of supply and demand and MFC (Melamine Faced Chipboard) prices are now up by 25%. While the plant owners can afford these prices for the raw material, thanks to subsidies, those of us in the furniture manufacture industry struggle to offset the difference between the ever increasing costs and what we can charge our clients.”
Despite these difficult current trading conditions Richmond Cabinet Company Ltd is committed to providing a competitive service to its clients without any loss in quality of workmanship, something the company has been doing since 1987.
For further information tel: 01457 767000 or visit their website: www.richmondcabinet.co.uk.
