The industrial showpiece of Ards. What local firm could begrudge the title to the palatial buildings which stand on Ballyharry Hill overlooking Newtownards and commanding a breath-taking view of Scrabo Hill and Strangford Lough.
It was was a happy day for the Ards when Berkshire Knitting (Ulster)Ltd. established themselves here nearly ten years ago. The firm brought with them a glimpse of the industrial New World in which the workers of the Ards could revel. Berkshire introduced "a new look" to our already healthy industrial scene. They added a touch of glamour to Newtownards and provided us with a pleasant contrast to the old-establiblised concerns in the area.

Most important of all, Berkshire brought to the Ards more prosperity, not only from an indusrtial view point, but also from the man in the street, the worker. Our older manufacturing concerns can be regarded as the back bone of local industry. They have stood the test of time, and, as this "Spectator series" has already shown, they are not by any means lagging behind in the general progressive trend of industry.

This Ballyharry mill has to be seen to be believed. It is luxurious right from the entrance gates throught to the more modest but non the less impressive rear. There is no waste or purposeless show in this splendour. It is all part of the Berkshire made up, for modern ideas run right throughout the firm. Right from the very contempoary colour schemes of the offices to the machines that knit the nylon stockings.

American Touch
This American touch is not unexpected, for the parent Berkshire Company and the largets plant in the seven mills in the different parts of the world is in Berkshire County, Pennsylvania, from which the brand derives its name.

After considering sites in various parts of the United Kingdom, the decicison to build a factory in Ulster was taken in 1947. Acting on advice and with co operation of the Northern Ireland Government the plant was established in Newtownards and occupied in 1948.

Employees
So successful has the enterprise proved that the Company at the present time employs 750, of which about 430 are men. The original optimum, therefore, has been more than doubled in nine years.

In practically every dept, Berkshire workers are paid according to their production. In other words, it is up to the employee how much he or she earns each week.The trained knitters are the men who earn the highest wages. They work in a very warm but air-conditioned atmosphere, but quickly adapt themselves to the conditions and, in fact are among the fittest workers to be found anywhere. Naturally the best and most experienced knitters are given the guaged machines. The Female employess are just vital in the Bershire stocking "assembly line" as the men. In fact, it is true to say that a degree of skill is called for in every department and, good wages are paid for good production.

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