Premier UK book finishing service providers, Monarch Indexing, are undergoing further expansion since their relocation from London to Barnsley almost two years ago.

Left to right: Lee McCormack (Monarch), Ann Glews (BDA) and Terry McCormack (Monarch) outside Monarch’s new premises at Shortwood Business Park.

Monarch Indexing specialise in leading edge step indexing, thumb indexing, specialist tab cutting and other book finishing services in various publications from user guides and diaries to catalogues and dictionaries. Their impressive client base includes major blue chip companies such as Vodaphone, HSBC, Alliance and Leicester and Capitol One. A relocation from London in June 2004 saw Monarch Indexing take up premises at Dodworth in Barnsley which brought about a 30% increase in turnover.

This was largely the result of site related cost savings which has since allowed the company to make valuable investments in automated cutting edge technology. Today, Monarch now operate two automatic state-of-the-art indexing machines, with plans to invest in a third machine in January 2007, together with five Remat manual machines. This combination allows flexibility and the capacity to work on a number of jobs at any one time, no matter how large or small. The factory operates 24 hours 7 days a week with a highly skilled and trained workforce to ensure they continually provide a reliable, flexible and competitive service in all aspects of their clients requirements.

This commendable company ethos has recently allowed Monarch to make the long-term investment in new larger premises at Shortwood Business Park. The company are the first occupiers to move into this Priority Sites development, located just off junction 36 of the M1 motorway. The 6,200 sq. ft. unit presented the company with the ideal solution - providing quality, modern premises in a prime location that will allow for additional expansion, both in terms of warehousing and marketing activity.

Joint Company Directors, Terry and Lee McCormack, are already looking to the future and predict that the move to their new premises will ultimately result in a further 35-40% increase in capacity. In response to the increased demand and expanding order books, Monarch, who currently employ six full time staff, are looking to take on a further four full time employees before July.

BDA has provided a valuable source of information and advice to support both the relocation and subsequent expansion and move to Shortwood. This has incorporated issues such as premise searches, recruitment, training and health and safety.

Terry McCormack, Director of Monarch Indexing, commented, “The growth and success we have experienced since relocating from London has exceeded anything we could have imagined. With invaluable support from BDA we have reaped the benefits of locating in Barnsley that has ultimately led to our recent expansion and move to Shortwood. The high capacity premises put us in an ideal position to consider future growth of all aspects of the business.”

Ann Glews, Business Development Officer at BDA, said, “Since our involvement with Monarch Indexing, the company has gone from strength to strength. It is great to see a company relocate from London to Barnsley and achieve the level of success and continuing growth that Monarch are experiencing. This further demonstrates Barnsley’s potential as a prime business location.”

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