The company said: “The new factory will ensure the UK’s supply of world-class emergency vehicles by creating its largest dedicated manufacturing facility and trebling VCS’s current production capacity to nearly 1500 vehicles annually. The new facility will secure UK supply of high-quality, low-emissions advanced emergency vehicles, with the investment helping to future-proof UK ambulance fleets, and ensuring that UK ambulances are built on UK soil
Bradford-based VCs – which started with five staff members in 2009 – says the new factory’s creation will enable it to grow its workforce to over 150 personnel, while a dedicated training academy within the new site will allow it to recruit more local people without emergency services sector experience, providing a further boost to the local community.
MD, Mark Kerrigan, said: “This is an extremely exciting milestone in VCS’s history, demonstrating our continued position as market-leaders in the emergency services sector. The company continues to exceed expectations, not only in terms of what VCS can do as a business, but equally our ability to deliver high-quality, low-emissions, advanced emergency vehicles.
“Having been based in the Bradford region since our inception, we know local people are extremely hard-working, skilled, and wonderfully resourceful. We want to reward this industrious and inventive community with more opportunities for jobs, learning new skills, and sharing in the company’s prosperity. Our new facility not only does this, but ensures the country’s continued supply of world-class emergency vehicles.”
VCS says it has ‘a reputation for creating the lightest vehicle conversions available – in turn aiding fuel efficiency and reducing emissions – without compromising on vehicle quality and reliability’. The investment follows a period of ‘exceptional growth’ for the business, which posted a 30% increase in turnover over two years. The company says it currently ‘sits in first place’ on the NHS framework for ambulance convertors, while it also plans to target new international markets in the coming years.