Wisbech-based SB Components has invested £6m in new facilities in the town and has jobs on offer
A Wisbech engineering firm which started 30 years ago with just four employees has given the town a major vote of confidence by unveiling plans for a new £3 million purpose-built workshop.
SB Components was started in 1988 by Steve Bushell and has now grown into one of the leading body-builders within the commercial industry.
With a group turnover of over £50 million a year, employing just over 400 people, SB Components will move into its new fleet workshop in Algores Way later this year.
SB Components recognised a need within the industry for larger and specialised fuel tanks for commercial vehicles. Today the firm, based in Enterprise Way, proudly supplies components for some of the country’s biggest names – including John Lewis, Asda, BT and Network Rail.
The firm, which with sister company Priden Engineering, also based in Wisbech, sits under the umbrella of the TVS Group (Total Vehicle Solutions Group), currently employs over 160 people working a two-shift pattern six days a week. With Priden the workforce is over 300, putting the companies among the larger employers in Wisbech.
Its other sister company, McPhee Mixers, is based in Blantyre, near Glasgow. They form part of the £50 million turnover and 400 workforce.
In the past two years SB Components has invested over £6 million in new facilities including a 27,000ft bodies workshop as well as a press shop, which are already complete. The company will move into its new state-of-the-art purpose-built fleet workshop in September.
As well as larger fuel tanks SB Components also offer a unique range of products for all commercial vehicles, from curtainside and tipping bodies, to bespoke side skirts and catwalks for Formula One racing teams.
They also design and install essential products that add safety to both the driver’s operations and the environment such as in cab warning devices and cameras.
Another added bonus are products such as microwaves, fridges and TVs aimed at making life on the road more comfortable for drivers.
They also have a company based in Holland called SB Europe that also supplies specialised fuel tanks and toolboxes from the Wisbech location to European countries such as France, Portugal, Denmark, Belgium and Holland.
The new premises mean the company is looking for new staff and a spokesman said recruitment is often an issue because of a lack of young people coming through with the required skills.
SB Components has tried to address the problem by working with local colleges and also through apprenticeships provided through its in-house training school, which offers a three-year programme of training.
A company spokesman said: “Skills like welding and metal work are hands-on but we find a lot of young people are not interested in that type of work and are going into IT, marketing and office work.
“We need people who want to work with their hands and have skills that come with experience, which is why we offer apprenticeships and training.”
Some of the jobs they are recruiting for include: electricians, CAD design engineers, welders and general fitters.
