Branching Out Into Construction Printing company builds new units at Hillhouse
When Billy Russell started up his printing company in his kitchen 26 years ago, little did he know that the company Russell Print would diversify inot construction. But, when the opportunity arose, the canny businessman grabbed it and the result is a new company and the first pahse of a three-p hase property development project...
As Russell Construction & Commercial Properties Ltd, the sister company is the driving force behind a new industrial unit complex at Hillhouse Industrial Estate, Hamilton.
Managed by Billy’s son, also Billy, the company has already begun work on Murray Court, fourteen high quality starter units for light industrial use covering a total floor area of 18,950 sq ft.
As an added bonus, between 30 and 50 jobs are also expected to be created in the first phase of the development.
It all began when Billy Senior approached Hamilton Enterprise Development Company who brought in South Lanarkshire Council and Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire.
Said Billy: “We had been involved in some development a few years ago and when the opportunity arose again, we thought we would go for it. We had been looking to diversify for some time and we believed that constructing industrial units was the best way of expanding into other areas.
“I also knew that a number of business people had to set up their companies outwith the area because they couldn’t get units in the area.
“From the beginning, I insisted this was going to be a high quality development. I wanted to build units that we could be proud of, something that would attract customers, make them think that they would like to move their business there. Let’s face it, everybody wants something a wee bit special. Each unit will be 1,000 sq ft and will have a mezzanine upper level for offices and storage.”
He continued: “This has been a long and protracted project, but officers from South Lanarkshire Economic Development have been very positive and very very helpful from day one. We asked for assistance and we got it very quickly with the minimum of fuss.”
In fact, the Council did more than just help Billy with his plans. Its Estates team helped pull the project together and secured the company a £30,000 grant from the Property Development Fund of the Hamilton North area Social Inclusion Partnership. This is the maximum amount of grant aid available from this fund.
Additional funding to the tune of £138,000 came from Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire with Billy picking up the tab for the rest of the money.
“If these units are successful, and I have every confidence that they will be, we will be looking at starting work on phase 2 next year. This will either come in the form of similar units, larger units or maybe even a business centre. We will have to assess the need for these at the time.
“However, that’s all very much in the future. We have enough to be going on in the meantime. We are hoping to have the first block of four units completed in late summer 2000 with the whole of phase 1 completed by early 2001.”
South Lanarkshire Council welcomed the new units.
Leader Eddie McAvoy said: “There is a significant demand for small business ‘start up’ units in Hamilton and we are all confident we will be able to fill these units quickly. This is another excellent example of partnership working at its best.”
For more information and general advice on a wide range of commercial premises throughout South Lanarkshire, including private sector property, contact 01698 455142.
Business South Lanarkshire - Summer 2000
Return to Magazine Back Issue Index
Site Map