Development Bank Powers up Blendini for Growth

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Development Bank of Wales , 9th February 2024

Professional motorsport business Blendini has relocated to Llandow in the Vale of Glamorgan having purchased the former Harris Pye Unit. The deal that has been part-funded by a substantial seven figure loan from the Development Bank of Wales.

Established in 2010 by championship winning driver Tom Roche, Blendini Motorsport has relocated from Edwards Business Park in Llantrisant to the 135,000 sq.ft site in Llandow. With two aircraft hangers and seven industrial units, the new premises allows room for growth and reduces operational costs with space to service vehicles on site including HGV’s.

Tom Roche, Blendini Motorsport and Richard Jenkins, Development Bank of Wales

Blendini Motorsport has a professional racing team that operates and maintains over 30 race cars around the world for Car Chase Heroes, a supercar racing provider. With a team of 25, services include arrive and drive packages, coaching and performance road car servicing.

This is the second loan from the Development Bank for Blendini as the company also had support during the Covid-19 pandemic from the Covid-19 Wales Business Loan Scheme.

As Managing Director of Blendini Motorsport, Tom Roche said:

“Since my early days of racing, I have always believed that success is a team effort be that on the track or in the boardroom. We’ve got a great team at Blendini and with the continued support of the Development Bank, we now have the right premises to supercharge our growth and reduce operational costs. It’s a win-win as we continue to see increased demand for our experience days and associated services.”

Richard Jenkins is a Portfolio Executive with the Development Bank. He said:

“From a young age, Tom has been passionate about cars and enjoys sharing his passion with those who share his love of supercars and want to experience different vehicles. Our focus is always on building long-term relationships so having helped Tom to get the business through Covid and seen the potential for long-term growth, we were keen to continue our support for this market leading business. What’s more, our investment secures the base of Blendini in Wales as they continue to expand throughout the UK.”

The funding for Blendini Motorsport came from the £500 million Wales Flexible Investment Fund. Loans, mezzanine finance and equity investments are available for Welsh businesses from £25,000 to £10 million with terms of up to 15 years.

Mae Blendini, y busnes chwaraeon modur proffesiynol, wedi symud i Landŵ ym Mro Morgannwg ar ôl prynu’r hen Uned Harris Pye. Mae’r cytundeb wedi cael ei ariannu’n rhannol gan fenthyciad saith ffigur sylweddol gan Fanc Datblygu Cymru.

Sefydlwyd Blendini Motorsport yn 2010 gan y gyrrwr llwyddiannus, Tom Roche, ac mae’r cwmni wedi symud o Barc Busnes Edwards yn Llantrisant i’r safle 135,000 troedfedd sgwâr yn Llandŵ. Gyda dwy sied awyrennau a saith uned ddiwydiannol, mae lle i dyfu ar y safle newydd ac mae’n lleihau costau gweithredu oherwydd mae lle i wasanaethu cerbydau ar y safle, gan gynnwys cerbydau nwyddau trwm.

Mae gan Blendini Motorsport dîm rasio proffesiynol sy’n gweithredu ac yn cynnal a chadw dros 30 o geir rasio ledled y byd ar gyfer Car Chase Heroes, darparwr rasio ceir cyflym. Gyda thîm o 25, mae’r gwasanaethau’n cynnwys pecynnau cyrraedd a gyrru, hyfforddiant, a thrwsio ceir moethus cyflym.
Dyma ail fenthyciad Blendini gan y Banc Datblygu gan fod y cwmni hefyd wedi cael cymorth gan Gynllun Benthyciadau Busnes Covid-19 Cymru yn ystod y pandemig.

Dywedodd Tom Roche, Rheolwr Gyfarwyddwr Chwaraeon Modur Blendini:

“Ers fy nyddiau cynnar yn rasio, rydw i bob amser wedi credu bod angen ymdrech tîm i lwyddo, boed hynny ar y trac rasio neu yn ystafell y bwrdd. Mae gennym ni dîm gwych yn Blendini, a gyda chefnogaeth barhaus y Banc Datblygu, mae gennym ni’r safle iawn i hybu ein twf a lleihau costau gweithredol. Mae pawb ar ei ennill wrth i ni barhau i weld cynnydd yn y galw am ein diwrnodau profiad a gwasanaethau cysylltiedig.”

Mae Richard Jenkins yn Swyddog Gweithredol Portffolios gyda’r Banc Datblygu. Dywedodd:

“O oedran ifanc, mae Tom wedi bod yn frwd dros geir ac mae’n mwynhau rhannu ei angerdd â phobl sy’n rhannu ei gariad at geir cyflym ac sydd eisiau rhoi cynnig ar wahanol gerbydau. Rydyn ni bob amser yn canolbwyntio ar feithrin perthnasoedd hirdymor, felly, ar ôl helpu Tom i gael y busnes drwy Covid a gweld y potensial ar gyfer twf hirdymor, roeddem yn awyddus i barhau i gefnogi’r busnes hwn sy’n arwain y farchnad. Ar ben hynny, mae ein buddsoddiad yn gosod seiliau cadarn i Blendini yng Nghymru wrth iddynt barhau i ehangu ledled y DU.”

Daeth y cyllid ar gyfer Blendini Motorsport o Gronfa Buddsoddi Hyblyg Cymru, sy’n werth £500 miliwn. Mae benthyciadau, cyllid mesanîn a buddsoddiadau ecwiti rhwng £25,000 a £10 miliwn ar gael i fusnesau yng Nghymru, am gyfnodau o hyd at 15 mlynedd.