A THRIVING Upton door company is investing £150,000 in creating a new factory and more jobs in Malvern.

Permadoor, based in Minge Lane, is getting set to open its third factory and employ 15 new people at the Enigma Business Park on June 4.

With a staff of 107 employees, factories in both Upton and Tewkesbury and construction of 40,000 doors this year, Permadoor has grown rapidly since it began life as Door Panels Ltd in 1985.

Managing director, Paul Nugent, said the business is keeping pace with the growing market.

"We make doors for local authorities, the housing association market and the DIY market," said Mr Nugent.

"The local authorities conversion of housing stock through large scale voluntary transfers means cash is available to refurbish housing and that's where our product fits in - every door we make is made to measure individually for each house

"Year on year for the first quarter the business has grown by 23 per cent.

"It's just a very successful company and this is a positive step for Permadoor and the local area."

Mr Nugent said that the massive increase in DIY stores has definitely helped the business to grow.

"The DIY market is one important part of our business - we supply to Wickes, B & Q and Great Mills."

"We've got 300 live customers, from Scotland down to the south coast. "We've also got our own distribution company, a sales force that's regionally based, regionally based service engineers. We're an extremely profitable company and we're expecting this year to be our highest turn-over year.

"The forecast is that we'll grow 20 per cent year on year and in the longer term we'll be amalgamating onto one site. We don't know where yet but we need to find a site for an 80,000 sq ft factory," said Mr Nugent.

He added that the company's success could be laid at the feet of the staff.

"Without them it wouldn't matter how good the product was," he said.