Specialist packaging company GWP Group have announced another successful year of trading with a continuing strong increase in turnover and new business. The Cotswold and Wiltshire-based manufacturing company saw turnover increase 8.9% in the 2016/17 financial year, up from 8.4% in the previous year. Established in 1990 GWP now employ over 100 people at locations in Salisbury and Cricklade.

Ruth Cook, Managing Director of GWP Packaging said: “Naturally we are really pleased that our year-on-year performance continues to be strong. We are, however, also proud that we have been able to expand during a period of unprecedented economic uncertainty”.

During the year, GWP has achieved significant growth in their Just in Time (JIT) delivery business. JIT means that GWP supply exactly the quantity of packaging that customers need, precisely when they need it. As a result, customers can hold less packaging stock, which often means they can free up valuable manufacturing space. One business to benefit from GWP’s JIT service is Andover-based Stannah Stairlifts. Stannah have been working with GWP for 12 months and are delighted with the first-class service they receive. Supplier Account Manager Rebecca Crozier explains: “At Stannah we operate from two sites and have daily deliveries of a range of different bespoke cardboard packaging items from GWP. They are able to adapt each delivery exactly to match what we need, and when we need it. What has been especially useful to us is that GWP can deliver in the exact pallet quantities that we specify.

“GWP are a responsive and pro-active company who manufacture all their own packaging products. Their design team and prototyping ability are excellent and their innovative approach to design was a significant factor in us awarding them the contract. GWP have shown us that we can rely on them and as a result we have been able to significantly reduce the amount of packaging stock we have to hold.”

In 2014 GWP were one of several companies who were instrumental in setting up CorrBoard, a UK-based corrugated board manufacturer who supply a consistent pipeline of quality board to its shareholders, one of which is GWP. Ruth Cook said: “The success of CorrBoard is one of a number of reasons we’ve been able to continue the growth in our JIT contracts. CorrBoard means that we are able to access a consistent supply of UK-produced quality board and this is fundamental to us being able to achieve the quality, reliability and consistency of price that our customers are looking for.”

According to Ruth, another important reason for GWP’s impressive performance is their dedicated workforce. Over a third of GWP’s people have worked for the company for more than five years with a significant number having more than 20 years’ service. Ruth said: “GWP has a reputation for delivering a first-class and reliable service. This has only come about because of the continued dedication and reliability of our staff. On behalf of the Directors of GWP, I would like to thank them all for their hard work and their continued loyalty. We are currently in the process of recruiting more staff so that we can continue to grow. Three quarters of all manufacturing companies are reporting that finding good quality and reliable staff is a challenge so retaining our excellent workforce is very important to us.”

Because of GWP’s growth, the company has taken an additional 3000 sq ft of warehouse space at Chelworth Industrial Estate in Cricklade, Wiltshire. A further expansion of 10,000 sq ft of warehousing, new manufacturing technologies and computer systems are planned for 2018.

For information about GWP see: www.gwp.co.uk or telephone 01793 754444