One of Ripon’s biggest employers is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary today.
Wolseley UK, which supplies building materials, is holding a family open day to coincide with the reopening of its head office.
The company, which employs more than 320 people in the city, is set to welcome all employees back today after its offices underwent a £500,000 refurbishment.
Face painting, a coconut shy and a performance from the Ripon City band will take place.
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Mayor of Ripon, Eamon Parkin, will cut the ribbon on the grand reopening.
Danny Bryan, employee engagement officer at Wolseley, said:
“Naturally, we’re incredibly excited about this step forward for our business, and it is sure to have a profound, positive impact on the local community worth shouting about.”
The company began life in Ripon in 1971 as The Wolseley Hughes Group.
It was based on Boroughbridge Road, where it remains to this day, and was made up of three companies OBC, Yorkshire Heating Supplies and Granville Controls.
In 1985, the company expanded its site and by 1996 was known as Wolseley Centres.
Parent company Ferguson sold Wolseley UK to a private equity firm, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, for £308m in January.
