Lord Shuttleworth pays visit to CoolKit

The Lord Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire inspected CoolKit’s new 45,000sq foot site, opened following an average year-on-year growth of 40% over the past six years.

CoolKit’s workforce has grown by more than 50% in the last 12 months, as managing director, Rupert Gatty, gave a presentation on CoolKit’s growth from just four employees in 2005 to its projected £10 million 2016 turnover.

Lord Shuttleworth has served as chairman of the Association of Lord-Lieutenants since 2008 and was a Member of the Council of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1998-2014 as well as serving as Chairman of the Council from January 2006 until December 2014.

He was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in the 2011 New Year Honours, in addition to being a Knight of St John (KJStJ), and in June 2016 he was appointed by The Queen as a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

Lord Shuttleworth was welcomed to the facilities by a delegation including local council members, CoolKit customers and suppliers and local business media. Mr Gatty also gave details of the company’s future growth plans and collaborations with educational institutions to ensure potential employees in the local area have the skills and expertise to support CoolKit and other local businesses.

The delegates were then taken on a tour of the facilities, following the production line, from materials in, through to completed product. Lord Shuttleworth showed great interest in the modern techniques CoolKit uses to ensure the highest level of insulation with high payloads.

Mr Gatty said: “It was a great honour to welcome Lord Shuttleworth today and provide him with a tour of the facilities. Recent years have been exceptional for CoolKit and so we were especially pleased to receive recognition of the success of the entire team from such a high level.”