Pierce provides a funding lifeline to local disability employer Remexx

Accountancy firm Pierce has helped its client Remexx, which employs local people with disabilities to manufacture educational furniture, to secure vital funding required to keep the business running. 

The business, born from the closure of Remploy Blackburn, currently employs seven people from the local area with disabilities to manufacture tables and desks for primary and secondary schools, colleges and academies.

Remexx was set up by former Remploy employees David Sussex and Peter Clarke and the duo have since been joined by new partner Mark Lomas of Lomas Office Furniture after Pierce introduced Mark to the business.

David said: “When we worked at Remploy, we could apply for government grants, however this funding has now been withdrawn. We still wanted to give local people with disabilities employment opportunities as we know how beneficial it is to them, but it has been a challenge to get funding.

"Thankfully the team at Pierce has been able to facilitate funding and introduce us to people who have provided grants for Remexx which have been absolutely vital to the business.” 

Pierce has also helped Remexx by advising on year end timings, R&D credits and tax breaks and supply them with year-end accounts, management information and cash flow projections.

David added: “Pierce has really helped us since we established Remexx in 2014, but the thing that has been most invaluable is their advice. The team is knowledgeable, excellent to talk to and they have genuinely helped us to transform the business.”

Mark Walmsley, associate director at Pierce said: “Remexx is a fantastic business that not only manufactures top quality products, but offers an invaluable service to people in our community. We know it has been a real challenge for David and the team to get funding to keep this service running, so we’re really proud to have given them the support and contacts to achieve this.

“Remexx has a very strong business model in place and we look forward to continuing to support them as they seek to grow.”

David added: “Our main aim is to employ people with disabilities or complex barriers and provide them with opportunities and skills that they could not learn elsewhere. We want to spread these benefits ever further to make a difference to the lives of more people in the local community.”