Home Manufacturing & Industry Castleford Curtain Maker has Success all Sewn Up

Castleford Curtain Maker has Success all Sewn Up

Nationwide Curtain Makers – recipients of a sizeable grant from ERDF funded programme, AD:VENTURE – celebrated the completion of its new offices and showroom with a star-studded ribbon cutting ceremony.

After successfully applying for the full £25,000 AD:VENTURE grant, the Castleford based curtain makers used the funds to facilitate the building of new meeting rooms, offices, reception area and trade showroom.

The company’s rapid growth was also thanks to support from a number of regional support programmes in addition to AD:VENTURE, namely the Leeds City Region LEP, Digital Enterprise and the Manufacturing Growth Programme, which were also instrumental in taking the business forward so quickly.

Now the family-run business has created 28 jobs for the local community, invested in a 5,500 square foot manufacturing facility and is developing its company website.


Wakefield Councillor for Castleford, Central and Glasshoughton, Richard Forster, said: “I’m here today because I wanted to show support to a business which has managed to transform itself from being a small supplier of local retail to an international commercial enterprise.

“This is a fantastic example of how local investment makes a dramatic and tangible difference to smaller businesses, delivering remarkable results for everyone involved. Castleford has a proud history of industrial heritage and Nationwide Curtain Makers have now managed to add a chapter to this.”

Mindir Paul, Business Advisor for AD:VENTURE, adds: “Nationwide Curtain Makers recognises the importance of its staff and works hard to recruit and retain the right people.

“The business has identified that seamstresses are hard to find these days, so they invest directly in local talent which is great news for Castleford as it provides the community with quality, skilled jobs. The grant process took around four to five months to complete but it is now wonderful to see that everything has come together.”

Nationwide Curtain Makers have also recruited staff through the Works Better programme, which helps people who want to secure employment overcome the barriers that are stopping them and is a collaboration of six partners and councils across the Wakefield district.

Nicola Boyd, who co-owns Nationwide Curtain Makers along with her husband Stephen and son James, comments: “This is our first birthday in the modern premises and we couldn’t have asked for a better turn out. We invited over 1,000 people altogether and it looks like most have them are here, which is fantastic. Guests have spent most of the day looking around the workroom seeing how we make curtains, leafing through the pattern books in our new showroom and exploring the different fabrics.

“We have been in the industry for over 20 years and have worked hard to build up our reputation – but we also recognise all of the external help and support we have been given in the form of advice, signposting and grants. This opening event was a great excuse to celebrate our success and send our thanks to everyone who has been a part of our expansion, whilst also raising over £300 for Hearing Dogs for deaf people.”