More jobs are being created at fast-expanding Parsons Bakery after the South Liberty Lane based firm was awarded cash from the Regional Growth Fund.
The family-run firm is about to celebrate its 110th anniversary – the last seven of them based at the SEGRO-operated South Liberty Lane estate where they have a 10,000 square foot bakery, shop and head office.
The fast-expanding chain has just opened shops in Cheddar and Hungerford, with shop number 25 about to open in Chippenham.
Finance and Commercial Manager Nicola Elliott said the £30,000 additional funding would help support employment opportunities in South Bristol and could help create up to 16 full time and 16 part time jobs.
She said: “Parsons started out 110 years ago only a few miles from our current base and traditionally attracts staff from the local area. The additional money will help us bring in more people to support our expansion – not just locally but across the West where we hope to have 30 shops by the end of the year. Each additional shop requires between four and five new staff. As Parsons Bakery continues to grow and expand we are well placed geographically to service our newest shops in Somerset and Berkshire, and to expand further afield into the Cotswolds as well as over the bridge into Wales and along the M4 corridor towards London.”
She said proactive management by landlords SEGRO had played a key role in the ongoing success of the business.
“Communication is always effective and consistent. What the management team at Parsons prize above everything though is SEGRO Bristol’s ability to either come in on budget or under budget in relation to the service charge. Our biggest challenge in 2012 will be the economic climate, so keeping overheads to an absolute minimum is our constant priority and SEGRO are helping us to do just that by providing value for money service charges.”
The 10,000 sq ft factory unit includes first floor office space and an on-site bakery shop which is particularly handy for staff working around the estate as well as drivers and construction crews working on refurbishment projects in neighbouring units.
Chris Davies, SEGRO Leasing Manager for the South West, said they were delighted to see Parsons’ success had attracted support from the Regional Growth Fund. He said: “Parsons is a good old Bristol business with deep roots in the local community. It’s great to see them being recognised and encouraging to see the confidence our occupiers have in their landlords.”
Jonathan Allen from Colliers International,who market the South Liberty Lane estate jointly with Jones Lang Lasalle on behalf of SEGRO, said the bakery was ideally situated to expand across the South West. “Closer to home the popular on site shop performs a fantastic service meeting the needs of the people who work at the estate with pasties, rolls and cakes.”
SEGRO operates four business parks around Bristol under an active management policy that allows businesses to move within the cluster and helps them with any required expansion or contraction in business.
For further information please visit www.bristolworks.co.uk.