WHAT a difference a year makes. Ask the managers and staff at a Liversedge metalworking firm who were left high and dry when their original company went into liquidation.

A year ago, Glentworth Architectural Metalwork was trading profitably but had to close when its parent group had financial problems. The collapse left 40 staff and their managers without jobs.

But yesterday, the bosses of AS Fabrications (UK) Ltd were back on top after winning a major business award.

Their story is one which should be applauded and perhaps used as a yardstick for those businesses which will inevitably feel the squeeze in difficult economic times.

This was a management team that didn’t give up when things got tough. They rolled up their sleeves, worked their contacts and all their skills and within four weeks of being made redundant were back in business.

The new company initially re-employed 18 of the axed workers and has now grown its staffing to 39. They have used fundamental business values, involving strict financial controls and investment in both staff and customer care.

It has paid off handsomely for the business in terms of backing from customers and suppliers and has now earned them well deserved acknowledgement from their business peers. Others may well choose to follow their lead.