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Dingwall firm WoodBlocX to create new jobs as part of expansion plans


By Philip Murray

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Henry Blake, the managing director of WoodblocX.
Henry Blake, the managing director of WoodblocX.

NEW jobs are expected to be created after a Dingwall manufacturer announced plans to double production as part of a new £750,000 investment.

WoodBlocX, which makes kits for building raised beds and landscaping gardens, already employs 16 staff in Dingwall as well as a further two in Frankfurt.

And its latest investment is expected to lead to the creation of four new production roles in Dingwall as the company looks to double international turnover from £2.5 million to £5 million over the next three years.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has awarded £188,000 towards the wider project, which will see the building of a second manufacturing facility with a view to increase exports and productivity.

Managing director, Henry Blake, said: “This investment will make the business more efficient and will provide the tools needed for its continued expansion. It’s great to have secured support from HIE, this will enable us to move swiftly forward with our growth strategy.

“It will also enable us to increase our contribution to the local economy and provide more high-quality employment opportunities, which is an area that we are incredibly passionate about.”

Henry Blake started WoodBlocX in 2012 as a small local business and it has grown into an international online firm with substantial domestic and commercial divisions throughout the UK and EU.

Based on a patented system, its product enables wooden blocks to be assembled to create a multitude of structures for the garden.

It can be used for many purposes including retaining walls, steps, outdoor seating and ponds. The company has produced more than 40,000 bespoke designs for gardens all over the UK and beyond.

The firm won the backing of Dragon’s Den’s Peter Jones in 2012 and in the same year won awards at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

To help its expansion, WoodBlocX has recently purchased a new storage and distribution facility in Dingwall and has also created a European subsidiary with a distribution hub in Frankfurt to serve the whole of the EU.

Juan Paulo Rodriguez, account manager from HIE’s Inner Moray Firth team, said: “This is a fantastic project and a great example of a dynamic Highland manufacturing firm pursuing its growth ambitions through innovation and automation.

"It’s also brilliant news for Dingwall and the wider local economy, particularly in relation to the creation of new jobs at the new facility.”

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