Eight new recruits have been taken on by a Thirsk business as part of a major development plan.

Dispol UK Ltd, which manufactures disposable paper and polythene products for the motor re-finishing trade, is taking on six factory staff and two administrators to cope with the fruits of a £300,000 investment in new equipment to extrude its own polythene for conversion into products.

The company, based in Station Road, Thirsk, makes floor mats, seat covers, cleaning products and masking materials used by garages and valeting services.

It previously bought ready-extruded polythene rolls to convert into products but decided on the expansion on the advice of Business Link North Yorkshire.

The one-stop business advice organisation also helped the firm gain a £450 business consultancy grant from Hambleton District Council and the firm is now working towards international quality standard ISO 9002 accreditation by next month.

Henry King, Dispol UK's quality assurance manager, said they were seeking the quality standard to strengthen its place in the UK market and to develop exports. "We exhibit regularly in exhibitions in Paris, Las Vegas and Frankfurt and we know the business is there," he said.

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