Yesterday Harrison Spinks – the luxury bed manufacturer which hand tailors mattresses under the Harrison, Somnus and Spink & Edgar brands – was visited by the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg. The purpose of the visit was to review progress of the company’s successful bid and award of £2.2m from the Government's Regional Growth Fund (RGF). The RGF funds will help stimulate the organisation’s spring and luxury products innovation projects and will facilitate entry into new commercial markets both in the UK and overseas.
The RGF contribution will help fund Harrisons Spink’s research and development project investment over the next five years and it is expected that these projects will create an additional 138 direct jobs within the company, helping to boost the Yorkshire region.
Delighted with the successful bid, Simon Spinks, MD of Harrison Spinks, says: “The pursuit of luxurious comfort in our Harrison and Somnus beds has led us to revolutionise mattress construction through the innovation and use of miniature pocket springs. Adopting the ‘Dyson’ approach to influence the innovation culture within Harrison Spinks, the RGF funding allows us to accelerate our research and development in high performance spring technology to be developed further for use in mattresses, upholstered furniture, cot mattresses, car seats, office chairs and even footwear.
“The RGF funds awarded will contribute towards the development of people and the innovation this will allow within the business. A recent example of a commercial use of our inventiveness is the development of a new ‘baby spring’ invented and designed specifically for cot mattresses which significantly improve comfort and postural support for infants whilst sleeping.
“We have some very exciting developments in the mattress, upholstery and footwear markets that we are looking forward to launching later this year as further inventions make it in to our commercial products. The RGF funds will help the business bring these new products to market in a shorter timeframe, whilst boosting skilled employment in the Yorkshire area.
“It is fantastic to be supported by the RGF, which will only help to drive our business forwards. Harrison Spinks are pioneers of innovative sprung comfort and it is my belief that research, development, innovation and people are the key to being a successful British manufacturer on the world stage.”