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Oliver Wellings Designs is a subsidiary of family-owned Birchills Automotive and is based in Green Lane and employs 25 people.
The company is using scrap steel from an engineering business that specializes in producing exhaust components to create sculptures sold through its website.
Oliver, the son of Birchills managing director Andrew Wellings, had been working in property before the coronavirus outbreak.
He explained that the 100 tons of stainless steel scrap used in the main business generates 6 tons of stainless steel scrap every month.
The sculptures were crafted from Oliver’s designs by the team’s welders.
Oliver realized there was a market for garden sculptures and initially developed a series of four sculptures – Stag, Wolf, Golden Eagle and Owl.
They can be produced to the dimensions required by the customer, and the OWD team also produces custom products.
“This business is 100% sustainable,” said Oliver, who said OWD is helping the parent company transform and diversify.
“As a result of the transition to electric vehicles, Birchills Automotive is also committed to developing as an engineering services solution rather than primarily an exhaust solution,” he explains.
He said orders for the sculptures had been growing and the new website oliverwellingsdesigns.co.uk would assist
The engineering business has received a £7,500 grant from Walsall Business Support to upgrade its website.
Investment in the site will help launch Oliver’s sculptures to new audiences around the world.
Oliver Wellings Designs was recently invited by the British Embassy in Dubai to display its sculptures at King Charles’ coronation party. The sculptures are also on display at Expo 2023 in Qatar and will be on display at the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, which opens in November.
Councilor John Murray, chairman of Walsall Business Support, said: “We offer grants to businesses that want to bring growth, skills and jobs to the Walsall borough, with the aim of reaching as many local businesses as possible People benefit.
“We are delighted to support Birchills Automotive through this grant. The business is innovative, forward-thinking and committed to being rooted in the West Midlands, employing and training local people.
“It’s very rewarding to be able to support Oliver in promoting his sustainable sculptures. As a designer who was born in Walsall and attended Walsall College, he is a wonderful local success story. There is no better place to be than on the international stage. What better way to showcase your Walsall business.
“Birchills Automotive is a great example of how growing businesses can benefit from Walsall Business Support Grants and we wish them all the best for the future.”
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