A Welsh clothing manufacturer which supplied hospitality garments for London 2012 has celebrated its most successful year to date following a sales rise of 20%.
First Corporate Clothing designed and manufactured 1,100 garments for events company Prestige, which were used by staff for last summer’s event including the Games’ Ambassador Lord Sebastian Coe.
The company has its own design, manufacturing, special measure and warehouse facilities at Llewellyn’s Quay, Port Talbot site where it employs 40 members of staff.
The exposure generated by the games has led to a series of lucrative contracts ranging from Cardiff Airport, Edinburgh’s International Conference Centre and several financial institutions.
Mal Davies, First Corporate Clothing’s managing director who discovered the company 20 years ago, said the games provided a real boost for the firm.
“Securing the London 2012 Olympics contract was a real coup for us. In the same way the Olympic Games put Britain on the map, we’ve experienced first-hand how the Olympics has left a legacy even in Wales.
Mr Davies also added that support from Neath Port Talbot Council’s business development team helped the company invest in two new machines that helped improve efficiency and productivity.
Ali Thomas, leader of the Neath Port Talbot Council, said stories like those of First Corporate Clothing demonstrate a growth in manufacturing at local level.
“While large-scale manufacturers such as TATA Steel Europe have dominated the skyline for decades with tremendous success, we have also seen a real growth in niche and smaller businesses,” he said.
Mr Thomas added: “First Corporate Clothing is a prime example of a business successfully operating on a UK wide basis from a strong base with excellent connectivity, a skilled workforce and competitive business rates.
“We will continue to work with the company to ensure that they receive the business support needed to work well beyond this legacy year.”
The company has also recently adopted the ‘Made in Britain’ signature, which serves to endorse British manufacturing across the world.
