Restrap Limited

Textiles manufacturer projects multimillion turnover

Textiles manufacturer Restrap has experienced rapid growth after cycling, health, and fitness products saw a surge in popularity and accessed capital grant funding and consultancy support from the LEP and the Manufacturing Growth Programme to help meet demand.

Today, the business:

• Projects a £4.5 million turnover by mid-2022
• Has nearly doubled its workforce from approximately 40 to 75 employees

Restrap Limited is a high-growth manufacturer, formed by Director Nathan Hughes in 2010 from his bedroom. The business designs and manufactures a wide range of technical cycle luggage and accessories for businesses and consumers in the UK and overseas. 

Restrap experienced rapid growth after cycling, health, and fitness recently became more popular. In response, the business aimed to increase capacity and productivity and relocated to a new, larger property in 2021. Nathan also wanted to quickly recruit and train more people and support his employees throughout the process.

To overcome Restrap’s high-growth challenges, Nathan accessed local support from Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (the LEP) and the Manufacturing Growth Programme. The business received capital grant funding through the LEP and the Manufacturing Growth Programme to support investments in specialist new machinery for its new premises including, a CNC cutting machine and an auto stitching machine. 

Through the LEP’s Strategic Growth Programme delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice, Restrap also received fully funded business coaching to develop a framework to create a high performing team that can support significant growth within a scaled-up business. 

The business accessed: 

• A diagnostic business review to identify key areas for improvement - change, people and skills
• Eight days of consultancy support from their chosen expert, Tony Webster, Wayfinder UK. 

After an initial discussion with the business, Tony agreed upon a project that would focus on a list of deliverables including, people development, performance management techniques, the introduction of appropriate KPIs, managing growth and scaling up. The project has helped the team improve performance and grow production outputs. 

Since receiving support from the LEP and the Manufacturing Growth Programme, the business has nearly doubled its headcount from approximately 40 (Full-time equivalent) to 75. The order book is full for the next 12 months, and they are projecting a £4.5 million turnover by mid-2022.

Restrap is focusing on continued growth including, making further investments in capital. The Manufacturing Growth Programme plans to provide more grant funding towards improving Restrap’s marketing and manufacturing operations.