Remexx thrives after Remploy Blackburn closure

Remploy in Blackburn, made furniture for education, and existed to improve the lives of disabled people and those with complex needs, through the power of work. They believed that everyone has something to offer and worked to find their strengths. Well this was the case, until (very controversially) the government pulled the plug on the project, back in 2015.

Quick thinking and caring, former Remploy employees, David Sussex and Peter Clark, were not willing to give up on their co-workers. They believed the educational furniture they manufactured had a market and knew it was going to be difficult for their colleagues to find new work places.

And after many months of negotiations, with Blackburn with Darwen council and other agencies, a deal was struck. Remexx was born and a number of jobs safe guarded.

Remexx very much shares the values of Remploy. And their core principle (apart from manufacturing high quality robust furniture for education) is to employ people with disabilities and complex barriers to work. But they are now privately funded and need to make a profit like all businesses.

Remexx are building on the excellent reputation of its predecessor for building strong, long-lasting and well-designed classroom furniture. In the first few years Remexx have grown through working partnerships with other independent businesses that have regenerated since the closure of the Remploy Furniture Group. Although, these relationships have been in other areas of the UK, quite a distance away from their headquarters and factory in Blackburn.

David and Peter have recently detailed a new sales strategy, which will concentrate on growing Remexx outside of their current ex-Remploy partnerships. And Remexx are now actively looking to appoint regional partners to market and supply their robust educational furniture into their own local educational marketplaces.

And hot off the press! Remexx has just appointed their first regional partner for Lancashire and Greater Manchester, MY Total Office Solutions (Haslingden).

Remexx Managing Director David Sussex said ‘it’s fantastic our first partner (outside of ex-Remploy organisations) is based within Lancashire, just over the hill from us in fact in Haslingden. For some time, Peter and I have dreamed about our products being supplied to our own local nurseries, schools and colleges. And now we have an agreement in place with Darren and his team at MY Total Office Solutions, our dream is becoming reality’.

Owner of MY Total Office Solutions, Darren Turner, added ‘this is a fantastic agreement for ourselves, Remexx and our local nurseries, schools and colleges. The quality and robustness of the products that the team at Remexx make are second to non, then add their core business value of employing people with disabilities and complex barriers to work, and you have a fantastic product made by fantastic people. We are extremely proud and honoured to be appointed Remexx supply partner for Lancashire and Greater Manchester, and will do everything we can to make the partnership a success’.