Arkoni officially opened its new £250,000 workshop facility recently with Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Chair Roger Marsh performing the honours.

The 1600 square metre workshop incorporates hi-tec CNC (Computer Numerical Control) cutting machinery and a machining centre with LEP's Business Growth Programme, supported by the Government?s Regional Growth Fund, providing a significant amount of the investment.

Roger Marsh, Chair of the Leeds City Region LEP commented: "Arkoni is experiencing high growth and increasing demand for its range of products. The workshop and machinery funded by the LEP gives the company additional capacity to meet growing demand.

"The LEP is supporting ambitious businesses across the Leeds City Region with both grant and loan investment packages to enable businesses to implement their plans for growth.

"Manufacturing is a vital part of the region?s economy and 70% of total available funding across the region has gone into this sector so far," added Roger.

Arkoni MD and founder Mark Prentice said: "We're continuing to operate at full capacity with growing demand from commercial construction projects nationwide playing a big part in our success.

"We've increased our workforce by well over 10% over the past twelve months and will shortly be announcing yet another record contract gain. We're bucking the trend in terms of declining manufacturing but are the perfect bell weather for the healthy state of the construction industry across the region and the UK as a whole.

"The support from the LEP is critical at times of expansion and we are very grateful for all the support they have given us and continue to give us," added Mark.