Contracts spiral for Helston-based firm

A MANUFACTURING company affected by the construction sector slump last year plans to expand its

operations following a series of substantial contract wins.

Spiral Construction – which designs and manufactures staircases ranging from dazzling showcase

pieces to utilitarian fire escapes – has submitted plans to increase the size its Helston plant by 25 per cent.

The work – which it is hoped will begin this summer – could create six new jobs with the firm.

In January 2009, the company laid off nine workers, due to the impact of recession on the building

trade. It switched its focus to public sector and high-end construction projects and, by autumn, had

re-hired and taken on 11 workers.

Recently, Spiral – which has around 60 projects on the go – won two £300,000 contracts to supply

staircase and fire escapes to new barracks for the Army in West London and the RAF at Brize Norton.

The modernisation works are being delivered by Bovis for the Ministry of Defence.

Spiral’s managing director, Eric Nicholls, said: “We are a nationally-operating company.

Most of our jobs are based outside the South West – anything located west of Bristol is considered ‘local’.”

The company is working on a dazzling feature staircase as part of a £40 million office development in

Aberdeen, and it recently completed a job for a college based in Thurso.

Most recent local commissions include a feature staircase for a new clubhouse building and Cornish

Riviera resort Pentewan Sands Holiday Park.

Mr Nicholls established the business in 1985 with his father, Buzz, who has since retired. The company

has 40 employees at Helston, with a further 12 sales and installation operatives located around the country.

Spiral’s staircases are precision engineered to order from materials including concrete, steel, timber

and glass, using advanced computer-aided design 3D technology.

Environmental specialist through the Business Link Convergence service are currently

advising Spiral to help build its new extension to full Building Research Establishment Environmental

Assessment Method standards, to ensure low running costs.