CUMBERNAULD-headquartered furniture manufacturer, Livn Manufacturing Limited, has secured a six-figure funding package from UKSE that will help the business invest in new technology and IT infrastructure.
Founded by Stephen Connachan in 1995, Livn Manufacturing has evolved to become a global manufacturer of bespoke domestic furniture. It supplies clients across the housebuilding, retail, hotel, and student accommodation sectors.
Customers include Marks & Spencer and Primark, with the high-street giants being supplied with fit-out kitchen space for staff areas. Having secured a major contact for Primark stores across Europe, Livn Manufacturing recently completed a fit-out for a store in Venice, with the furniture designed and manufactured from its 60,000 sq ft site at Lenziemill Industrial Estate before being exported to Italy.
The funding from UKSE, a subsidiary of Tata Steel, will enable the firm to update its IT infrastructure, modernising its CAD (computer-aided design) to CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) design software that is used to create bespoke furnishings. This will create two new job roles within the technical team, bringing the headcount to 48 over the next 12 months, with plans to grow this further.
Some of the funding is also being used to upgrade the façade of the Cumbernauld site with new branding.
Stephen Connachan, founder and MD at Livn Manufacturing, said, “Over the last 28 years, Livn Manufacturing Limited has evolved to become a leading furniture manufacturer, adapting to changes in the industry whilst simultaneously building a trusted customer base. The funding from UKSE will allow us to future-proof our production line, making us more efficient and better placed to handle the growing demand for our high-quality products and services. We have an ambitious growth plan, and we look forward to continuing to diversify our offering and working with new sectors.”
Scott Webb, regional manager at UKSE, added, “Livn Manufacturing Limited is a fantastic example of a business which has shaped itself to reflect the changing needs of the market. I look forward to seeing the positive effects that our funding will enable, importantly including team growth, and continuing to build our relationship with Stephen and his team.”
