News: Philford make the link to business growth

Philford Design Engineers of Rotherham are celebrating their thirtieth anniversary this year – and all the indications are that the business looks set for another thirty years of growth and profit.

Philford enjoys a high reputation within the mining and minerals extraction and handling industries and supplies equipment to many of the UK's leading industrial companies – including UK Coal, Drax Power Station, British Waterways and Salt Union.

The business currently enjoys a turnover of around £5 million and employs 44 members of staff, but it is over the past three years that the business has witnessed the most significant growth. That period has seen turnover double and staff numbers rise from 27 to 44.

Throughout their development, Philford has worked with Business Link Yorkshire advisers John Loots and Paul Burton and the company's general manager, Steve Hayes, has no doubt about the importance of the role that Business Link has played.

He said: "We always walk before we run here and look at all aspects before we take decisions and Business Link has helped us to do so. They are experts at what they do and we have used that expertise to our advantage. They have also really helped us to cut down on the time taken to get us to the position we are now in."

The link up has led to the creation of a marketing function, improved tendering, updated quality management systems, specialist staff training and further export opportunities.

Rotherham-based Business Link adviser, Paul Burton says: "Working with Philford has been great – a pleasurable and rewarding experience. Management has always been open to new ideas and has welcomed Business Link into their team in our efforts to help them take the business forward.

"In recent years the business has prospered during a very difficult period for the engineering sector. Philford have an exciting future ahead of them and Business Link Yorkshire look forward to many more years of collaboration to see it achieve even greater success."

Philford Design Engineers website
Business Link case study
Rotherham

Images: philforddesign.co.uk