Nick Gibb visited the factory and offices of AJS Labels in Littlehampton to see how far the business has come since he last visited in 2009. Back then, Andrew and Jayne Scrimgeour had recently bought the business in a management buy-out. The company, which they re-named AJS Labels, was losing £350,000 per year. Seven years on, it is now very profitable with a turnover of over £10 million a year.
AJS Labels prints the labels for thousands of well known products. Its customers include Nestle and Dulux. Over the last seven years the company has invested millions of pounds in new plant and equipment, ensuring it can meet its customers' deadlines and that the finished label is perfect. The company employs 70 people in Littlehampton and 24 at its base in Leeds.
In 2015, AJS Labels were awarded Sussex Overall Business of the Year as well as UK Packaging Company of the Year.
Nick Gibb said: 'When I first met Andrew and Jayne Scrimgeour in 2009, soon after they had put their life savings into buying a loss-making company, I was very confident they would turn the company around. Andrew's expertise and drive supported by Jayne's administrative ability, together with a young and ambitious leadership team and a conscientious workforce, has propelled AJS Labels into the top league of technical printing companies.
"It is wonderful that such a market leader is based here in Littlehampton."
Photo: from left: Andrew Scrimgeour; Ian Salt; Kevin Taaffe, Nick Gibb; Martin Gray