Jobs boost after £750k investment in Prestwick

Jun 8 2012 by Stuart Wilson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

A £750,000 investment has created 17 new jobs in Prestwick.

Etek Europe Ltd’s new facility at the aerospace park is part of a Scottish Enterprise initiative to boost economic growth.

The company was set up by Mike Nelson in 2007 and now turns over £2.6 million and employs 24 staff.

In five years it has grown steadily with five divisions providing products and services internationally to more than 800 clients across a number of industry sectors, including aerospace, defence, medical and electronics.

Mike said: “The investment in this new technology centre will allow Etek Europe to invite our global customers to come and view our equipment in our new demo room.

“We shall also have a training academy where our customers can also be trained to a high level on both equipment and processes.

“Additional warehousing and office space will also help with our expansion over the next 24 months.”

Scottish Enterprise’s chairman, Crawford Gillies, officially opened the new facility.

He said: “This is a significant milestone in Etek Europe Ltd’s growth plans and I am delighted to be here to join them in celebrating this landmark event and to hear first hand its growth plans for the future.

“For Etek, having the right premises with more space means it can recruit more staff to meet its existing customer needs but it also opens up a number of other opportunities such as new customers, new products and new markets.

“We need to encourage more companies to see the benefits of investing in the right equipment and infrastructure and the huge knock on effects it can have to their top line.”

Enterprise Minister, Fergus Ewing, added: “Etek’s announcement to expand their Scottish operations and create 17 new jobs at their Prestwick facility is testament to the skills and expertise of the local workforce.

“The decision of this growing firm to invest in Scotland highlights the talent we have in the aerospace industry, and also Scotland’s attractiveness as a place to do business.”

Etek Europe Ltd has purchased an 11,000 sq ft unit at Prestwick International Aerospace Park from Scottish Enterprise and South Ayrshire Council.

This latest deal means there are just two smaller units (7255 sq ft) remaining at the strategic site adjacent to Prestwick Airport.

The Park offers significant greenfield opportunities for other companies, by providing prime serviced sites – and its recent designation as one of Scotland's new Enterprise Areas means that there is potential for companies to establish with the benefit of tax incentives.

Central Ayrshire MP, Brian Donohoe, said: “This is great news for the local area.

“Etek Europe are in good company joining such companies as Goodrich, Veracity and Tannlin in the aerospace park at Prestwick and I wish them the very best in their endeavours.”

And Adam Ingram, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, said: “Etek’s announcement to expand their Scottish operations and create 17 new jobs at their Prestwick facility is testament to the skills and expertise of the local workforce.”