Brechin firm reveals expansion plans with investment in people and premises

Angus prototyping and 3D-printing company Angus 3D Solutions, led by manufacturing veteran Andy Simpson, has started implementing its new growth plan with its first apprentice, 18-year-old local school leaver Ritchie Webster.

He is beginning his four-year Modern Apprenticeship in Additive & Subtractive Manufacturing at Dundee & Angus College next Monday (August 1).

In the meantime, he has been gaining work experience since last September, after contacting the firm. That has since grown from one day per week to holiday work, and then full-time after he left school last month.

Andy was keen to help him get into the industry early as he got his own start in manufacturing through a local apprenticeship. He expects the cost over four years to be around £65,000.

Andy also hopes to take on another new member of staff in October or November, when he plans to move to larger premises at the town’s Montrose Road Industrial Estate.

This will increase manufacturing space by 250% and allow investment of £100,000 in more equipment and improvements to its manufacturing processes.

The acquisition of a water jet cutter earlier this year with an £8000 BIG Fund grant from Angus Council - to cut any material for clients and extend that capability to other local small businesses - highlighted the limited space at the firm’s current premises at Brechin Business Centre.

Andy said that overall the aims is to take turnover past £400,000 by the end of 2023.

He continued: “Aside from passing on the crucial career start I once received myself, having Ritchie doing his Modern Apprenticeship while working with us will allow us to develop our capabilities further through him.

“While we’re grateful for the excellent support we’ve had from Angus Council, the larger premises are better suited to our current and future needs and will enable us to increase production capacity to realise our forecast growth.”

Find out more at www.angus3dsolutions.co.uk.