Manufacturing champion secures £1m loan for investment in factories

A UK company that manufactures components for the defence and security sectors has secured a £1 million loan for further investment in its factories. Geometric Manufacturing, which employs almost 100 people at three sites in Tewkesbury, has secured funding from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II through appointed fund manager Frontier Development Capital.

Geometric, whose CEO Paul Wenham is known as a champion of UK manufacturing, has invested over £6 million in the past nine years in automating its processes and improving quality and efficiency. The company makes parts for counter-drone systems, submarines and cybersecurity hardware.  It has installed the latest CNC machines, an automated computer-driven tool, and developed its own range of robots to tend them, which it is now offering for sale to other machining companies.

The company has also invested heavily in staff training and runs its own degree apprenticeship scheme. The investment to date has enabled it to double its turnover in the past four years. Geometric aims to grow turnover by a further 50% over the next two years and to create at least six new apprenticeships each year.

Founded in 2002 by Paul and his late father, Brian Wenham, Geometric acquired a small rubber and plastic moulding company in 2019 and in 2024, acquired the assets of a supplier, a sheet metal fabrication and finishing business, out of administration. Both have been integrated into its main business and the company now operates from all three sites.

The latest funding will enable Geometric to install robots on four more CNC machining lines, to match the five existing lines now running unmanned 24-hour operation. It’s also planning to upgrade the company’s sheet metal fabrication and expand its capabilities with the addition of 3D printing, laser welding and an automated insertion plant.

“Investment is vital if UK manufacturing is to remain competitive,” states Paul Wenham, CEO. “Automation is improving productivity and changing the nature of factory work. Factory jobs are no longer boring and low-skilled; robots can take over repetitive tasks but we need highly skilled workers to program them, which is why we launched our degree apprenticeship.”

He continues: “They are certainly not stealing jobs; our business has grown significantly and created jobs as a result of using robots. We’ve invested heavily in recent years and the latest funding will enable us to continue moving forward.”

David Tindall, Senior Investment Manager at the British Business Bank, adds: “Geometric Manufacturing is a stand-out example of how investing in innovation and people goes hand in hand. Alongside expanding its advanced manufacturing capabilities, the business is creating new apprenticeship opportunities and developing the next generation of engineering talent through its training programmes. That’s the kind of long-term, sustainable growth the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II is designed to support, and we’re pleased to back the company’s next phase of expansion.”

Andy Green of Frontier Development Capital comments: “Paul is a big supporter of UK manufacturing and has set a great example with the way he and his team have continued to innovate and invest in the business. Greater defence spending, the need for anti-drone systems and improved cybersecurity are all likely to increase demand for their products in the future. The loan will help them continue to build their capacity and capabilities.”

The £400 million Midlands Engine Investment Fund II covers the entire Midlands region and provides equity investment up to £5 million and debt finance from £25,000 to £2 million to help SMEs start up, scale up or stay ahead.

The purpose of the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II is to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the Midlands. The fund will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for smaller businesses in the Midlands, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.