Last updated 12:01, Saturday, 09 August 2008

AN extended family of British-born Indians celebrated the opening of a new business in Barrow yesterday that could create dozens of jobs in the future.

Already £300,000 has been invested buying a property in Dalton Road and creating two new firms – a residential letting company, Parm Properties, and a web design firm Newer Vision.

More businesses will follow.

Eight jobs are being created initially but many more could follow if the Barrow site is a success says Woverhampton-born Sam Mall.

His brothers Mukesh and Rakesh, his sister Sunita and their Indian born mum and dad Harbans and Swaran, and other family members, gathered at the new Parm Properties office next to the Coffee Bean in lower Dalton Road.

Sam Mall who has business interests in Morecambe, the Midlands and London, said he has invested the £300,000 so far creating plush hi tech offices from the derelict shop he bought after a car outing to Barrow, and installing equipment, including a £100,000 temperature controlled computer server with worldwide connections.

The extended Mall family live around Morecambe, where they also run a fish bar.

Sam Mall who says his Indian godfather inspired his success, also runs a firm in London employing 21 engineers, which specialises in moving IT equipment for firms in the south, which are on the move.

He has nothing but praise for Barrow and its potential and plans to run an online recruitment agency aimed at banks, solicitors and IT firms around the UK from Barrow as well. Mr Mall is now looking to hire telesales, web design and graphic design staff in the town.

He said: “I came to Barrow for a drive. I have businesses in Morecambe and have a lot of customers in Barrow.

“I was always looking across the bay towards Barrow and I was curious.

“I came for a drive and I bought a property here the same day.”

He now owns 15 properties in the town and Parm Properties will manage them and properties for other buy-to-let owners in a 30-mile radius.

He said of Barrow: “I just find it is one of the most beautiful spots I have ever seen and the drive into Barrow is unbelievable. The people here are very friendly.”

The Barrow Traders Group welcomed the boost given to lower Dalton Road by the new investment.