Barbour secures investment from Regional Growth Fund

The British government has awarded heritage brand Barbour with 549,000 pounds in funding from the Regional Growth Fund to expand capacity and export to new markets. The investment will allow Barbour to create 130 new jobs. Barbour, car

component maker Gestamp Tallent and UK Steel Enterprise have received a combined 5.5 million pounds from the Regional Growth (RGF) to create 700 new jobs and safeguard a further 450, having completed due diligence.

The funds come from the government’s flagship jobs scheme, part of the Regional Growth Fund, and will be used to expand capacity and boost exports, as both the government and Barbour confirmed earlier this week.

The quintessentially British heritage fashion brand applied to get the funding last year.

Business secretary Vince Cable paid a visit to J Barbour & Sons in South Shields and explained why Barbour was selected to get the financial boost.

“Barbour clearly has the right approach to skills and their Academy with Hartlepool College will ensure they retain the diverse range of practical skills they need to stay ahead of the competition,” Cable highlighted.

More jobs and international expansion

In the same vein, Barbour's finance director Brenda Readman-Bell said the 549,000 pounds investment would allow the company to create jobs and raise the profile of the brand internationally. "We support long-term employment and commercial longevity in the North East and this grant will enable us to extend our current warehouse and factory facilities and secure additional employment opportunities," said Readman-Bell.

"Barbour believes that the RGF support for British manufacturing and companies in the North East helps to raise the profile of Barbour as an internationally recognised brand built on quality and heritage and enables us to tell the market place that quality and service exists in the North East," Readman-Bell added.

The veteran British fashion label is wholly owned by the Barbour family, with Dame Margaret Barbour heading the company as chairman.

As per the last accounts filed with Companies House by Barbour, its pre-tax profit jumped to 17 million for the year 2011, on the back of a 35 percent rise in revenues to 121.6 million pounds.