North-East Business
Seventh generation of Weardale business continues its expansion
8:00am Tuesday 21st February 2012
SEVEN generations of a firm that started in a smithy is continuing to breathe new life into a North-East dale that has lost much of its industrial heritage.
While other businesses in Weardale, County Durham, have vanished in recent years - and are continuing to do so - Gardiners agricultural and industrial engineers is pressing ahead with expansion plans.
Four years ago the firm, based at The Butts, Frosterley, diversified into the hardware business and opened a country store selling a wide range of sports clothing. Recently it took over an animal feeds store based at nearby Wolsingham.
At the same time, Gardiners, which started life as a blacksmith's in 1779, has been expanding its agricultural and general engineering base. It now employs two full-time welders.
To press ahead with expansion plans and, hopefully, create more jobs, the company has now appointed a manager to run its country store.
Steve Falcus was recruited from the Country Land and Business Association and has more than 20 years experience in customer service.
"I aim to build on the reputation Gardiners has built up over 250 years of serving the dale by retaining its feel for local business that customers like," he said. "I'm delighted to be joining a firm that has become such an important part of Weardale's industry."
Gardiners lost two of its major customers in fabrication and welding with the closure of the Blue Circle cement works at Eastgate and the Wolsingham steelworks at Wolsingham.
Other smaller businesses, dependent on these two major employers, have also followed suit.
But Gardiners has managed to carry on by building up its agricultural machinery and general engineering business.
Its managing director, Jonathan George Gardiner - all seven generations of Gardiners have been called George - said: "With rural communities like us continuing to suffer from dwindling services and loss of jobs, it's vital for firms like us to build on our success over the years.
"We have been in business for quarter of a millennium and we have every intention of building on that tradition.
"We intend to expand our animal feeds side of the business and add to the range of goods we stock in our country store. That's why we are delighted to have somebody with Steve's experience join us."