The acquisition was supported by advice and diversification funding from Accelerate, the automotive supply chain initiative, which is funded by Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund, and managed by Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. More recently, Accelerate provided a £30,000 Business Development Grant to help with staff development and the centralisation of equipment from Hockley Auto into Birmingham Stopper's 65,000 sq ft factory in Icknield Street.

Roger Varley, managing director, said "This strategic approach has seen us become a one-stop metal shop, with investment in CAD/CAM giving us the ability to take projects from initial design right through to manufacture - a vital ingredient that has successfully taken our reliance on the auto industry from 99% to just under 50% in five years."

Buoyed by contracts to supply components to the US military and the mountain railways industry, Birmingham Stopper is now turning its attention to increasing production efficiencies with further help from Accelerate.www.birminghamstopper.co.uk

West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund, and managed by Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. More recently, Accelerate provided a £30,000 Business Development Grant to help with staff development and the centralisation of equipment from Hockley Auto into Birmingham Stopper's 65,000 sq ft factory in Icknield Street.

Roger Varley, managing director, said "This strategic approach has seen us become a one-stop metal shop, with investment in CAD/CAM giving us the ability to take projects from initial design right through to manufacture - a vital ingredient that has successfully taken our reliance on the auto industry from 99% to just under 50% in five years."

Buoyed by contracts to supply components to the US military and the mountain railways industry, Birmingham Stopper is now turning its attention to increasing production efficiencies with further help from Accelerate.

www.birminghamstopper.co.uk