AWARD-WINNING Gloucestershire firm Glevum is planning a £1 million expansion with the creation of 30 new jobs.
The windows, doors and conservatories installers, based at Broadoak, near Newnham-on-Severn, is hoping Forest of Dean district planners will give it the go-ahead on Tuesday (August 12) to build two new buildings for additional staff training, administration and storage, as well as improved parking areas.
Chairman of the family firm Gary Jones, who hails from Drybrook, said the plan would bring much-needed employment to the area, along with more customers – who would boost local trade.
“This is a great opportunity for the Forest of Dean,” he said. “We are the victims of our own success and we simply need to expand our existing business at Broadoak to give more floor space and parking in order to employ extra staff and create employment opportunities going forward.”
The 52-year-old father-of-three, who lives in Minsterworth, said his company would be helping to redress the daily exodus of 14,000 outworkers from the Forest of Dean by providing expanding his current 70-strong workforce.
Gary, who has the full support of neighbouring businesses and residents, set up his firm 30 years ago at the former Morelands Match factory site in Gloucester.
In 2000, he opened the Broadoak headquarters which has gone on to become the largest independent installer of conservatories in the South West. He supplies the top 10 housebuilders in the country, and boasts 44,000 domestic customers in Gloucestershire alone.
Gary has also launched a green energy arm to his business, installing solar PV, air and ground source heat pumps and rainwater harvesting systems. Two years ago, Glevum became the first window and door company to become Green Deal accredited by FENSA, the well-respected industry body. The firm has a string of awards to its name including the UK Conservatory Company of the Year Award.
Glevum’s other claim to fame was the launch of glamour girl Melinda Messenger’s TV career with the iconic ‘Class behind Glass’ ad campaign which made it to Page 3 of The Times newspaper.
