A SPECIALITY chemicals manufacturer with ambitious growth plans has boosted production with major investment and also expanded its apprenticeship programme.

Christeyns, which employs 130 people at its Rutland Street, Bradford, base, recently completed a £400,000 upgrade of its liquid production operation which has increased capacity by around 40 per cent and further improved consistency and quality levels.

It means Christeyns can produce 500 tonnes of liquid products a week on a single shift system.

It followed nearly £300,000 of investment in the company’s first road tanker capable of carrying 30,000 litres of products along with related storage facilities. The state-of-the- art vehicle was acquired to streamline deliveries by Christeyn’s construction products division.

Nick Garthwaite, managing director, who is vice-president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said the Belgian-owned company had ambitious expansion plans in the UK, either through organic growth or more acquisitions.

“We are particularly keen to expand in the professional hygiene sector, subject to finding the right partner. The family which owns Christeyns is very entrepreneurial and encourages their managers to be the same,” he said.

Meanwhile, Christeyns has recruited two local youngsters to its two-year apprenticeship scheme designed to lead to full-time jobs .

Jordan Smith, 20, and Lauren Griffiths, 21, were chosen from ten hopefuls at a selection day which involved interviews with the management team, numeracy and literacy tests, team activities and a factory tour.

The two-year apprenticeship scheme has been developed by Christeyns as a manufacturing programme and is monitored by Bradford training body Appris Management Ltd.

The trainees will spend time in each department and at other group companies.

Neville Kildunne, works manager, said apprenticeships were at the heart of Christeyns staffing policies.