A Hadleigh lighting firm has bought out an artisan glassblowing company.

Jim Lawrence, the lighting and homeware manufacturer on Lady Lane, has finalised deal to take over Suffolk Glass, for an undisclosed sum.

Founded by husband-and-wife team Jim and Sheena Lawrence on the kitchen table of their Suffolk farmhouse in 1994, Jim Lawrence has grown to a 150-strong workforce of engineers, welders, painters, seamstresses, designers, lampshade makers and technicians and support staff and also has a showroom in Walcot in Bath.

The five workers at Suffolk Glass who use traditional glassblowing and manipulation techniques to make hand-made glassware using, will be kept on in the takeover.

In 2007 Suffolk Glass moved to Acton, near Sudbury, then in 2019 to its current factory in Clare, following continued growth.

In a statement announcing the acquisition Jim Lawrence said its team will continue to work with existing suppliers and wide range of clients under its new management, while creating job opportunities for people in the Hadleigh area.

It added that the two companies have worked together for many years on a range of glass pendants, ceiling lights and lampshades made using traditional glassmaking techniques.

Jim Lawrence added: "There is a shared vision to create beautiful products with customers at the heart of what they do using a team of highly skilled local craftspeople.

"It is a natural step for the two businesses to join forces."

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