A NANTWICH furniture maker has been awarded £25,000 to support its expansion.

Frank Olsen Furniture has obtained the money from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) to help expand from a start up to a scale up business following a sharp increase in retailer demand for its products.

The Nantwich-based firm designs and manufactures a range of bedside, cabinet and TV and media stands, incorporating remote technology to wirelessly charge mobile phones and other handheld devices.

With clients including major retailers House of Fraser, Bensons for Beds, and Arighi Bianchi, turnover has grown quickly since the company was founded in 2016.

The £25,000 investment will now enable the business to purchase the stock required to fulfil confirmed orders as well as bring roles in-house in order to improve margins.

Charlie Graybrook, managing director at Frank Olsen Furniture, said: “Interest in wireless charging continues to pick up momentum and, with major companies just beginning to explore its capabilities, businesses utilising this technology that have already launched quality products to the market are in a great position to capitalise.

“We have seen first-hand the strong demand for this technology and have been delighted with the response our products have received by customers and major retailers.

“With this investment from NPIF, we are able to invest in new stock, bring roles in-house and create new jobs, allowing us to build on the strong growth we have already achieved since we launched last year.”

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund provides microloans, debt and equity investments, ranging from £25,000 to £2 millon to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead.

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund is delivered by The British Business Bank.

Sue Barnard, senior relationship manager at British Business Bank, said: “Businesses in Cheshire and Warrington continue to display a strong appetite for growth, investment, and a desire to innovate.

“Frank Olsen Furniture is a prime example of a business that is ahead of the curve, and we look forward to seeing what its talented management team can achieve with this NPIF investment.”