STATIONERY FIRM ON THE MOVE

Prime Minister David Cameron’s pro-growth message in which he champions and challenges the ingenuity of British people to show sparks of initiative, display the courage to make dreams happen and produce the hard work to see them through, has been taken up by Bath businessman Ian Locke.

Mr Cameron says the strategy for growth is to get behind Britain’s entrepreneurs. But at the time of the PM’s speech to the Conservative party’s spring conference, Mr Locke was well on the way to expanding his business and investing in the future.

The 37-year-old managing director of Test Office Products, a commercial and retail stationery firm with ten employees, is expanding into new premises in Trowbridge which were identified for the company by Bath commercial property agents Carter Jonas.

“It’s encouraging to see companies growing and expanding in some difficult times and we’re sure the move into west Wiltshire will be a tremendous benefit to other companies in the area,” said Carter Jonas’s Colin Scragg.

Test Office Products’ shop will continue to operate in Union Passage, Bath but the commercial side is transferring to Doric Business Park in Trowbridge which will provide much needed additional space and enable the company to expand more into Melksham and Devizes and even further east.

Founded 20 years ago by Mr Locke and his parents, Test Office Products supplies office equipment to local businesses, large or small, supplying stationery ranging from adhesive tapes and staples to computers, desks, chairs and cleaning materials. It even offers an office design service.

“We provide a delivery service which we believe is second to none,” said Mr Locke, who is supported in running the business by Steve Byfield, from Melksham, who also has 20 years experience in the office supplies industry.

“Our philosophy is that people like dealing with people and buying from people and we offer that kind of service. Anyone can visit our shop and buy over the counter or order by phone and we will deliver the next day, or if possible the same day. They like what we do. We operate within 40 or 50 miles radius and know we can fulfill our customers’ requests.” he added.

There are 12 units on Doric Business Park and Carter Jonas has disposed of 10.