Car parts firm moves 187 jobs from Chippenham to Trowbridge (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Car parts firm moves 187 jobs from Chippenham to Trowbridge

4:28pm Friday 27th July 2012 in News By Alex Winter

Car parts firm DTR VMS will be leaving Bumpers Farm Industrial Estate in Chippenham as part of a multi-million pound investment into a new HQ in Trowbridge.

The company, which employs 187 people, has been on the Chippenham estate since leaving Bradford on Avon in 1992, when it was called Avon Automotive VMS.

The move will come as a blow to Bumpers Farm, but there will be no planned job losses.

Operations manager Mike Franklin said the company is even hoping to recruit 15 more people for the research and development department after the move to the at the White Horse Business Park is complete.

“Our Bumpers Farm premises are leased, and that lease is due to run out in March 2014,” Mr Franklin said.

“The site is not big enough for our needs any more, and so it has become necessary to move. We’ve been looking for a suitable site for the last couple of years, and we’re delighted that we’ve found it.”

The company had considered a move to Showell Farm, which has proposed an employment land development, but Mr Franklin says the site won’t be ready in time.

“Unfortunately, that development is just not going to happen fast enough for us,” he said.

“We are very pleased with our new premises in Trowbridge, however. Currently the site is undergoing a refurbishment so we can move in.”

The company is was given more than £3 million from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund for the research and development department.

Business minister Mark Prisk toured the factory last week after the company received the money.

He said: “It’s a real pleasure to visit this dynamic company and congratulate them on their Regional Growth Fund award.

“Their new site makes sustainable use of Brownfield land and will allow their highly technical business to develop and grow.”

The fund has helped to unlock private sector funding as part of a £12.7 million investment into the new premises in Trowbridge.

Mr Franklin said: “We are owned by a company in South Korea, who are keen that we own rather than lease.

“It is good news, particularly that these jobs are safe.”

The company designs and manufactures technical products to address noise, vibration and improve vehicle comfort.