An award-winning company is looking to move to new premises as it gears up for a busy 2015.

Camper van conversion specialist Wellhouse Leisure is keen to bring its operations at Shepley and Shelley onto a single site – but wants to stay within a five-mile radius of its Shepley base if possible.

The company, which employs 30 people and supplies Ford Terrier camper vans to a network of 23 dealers across the UK, currently has its headquarters and showroom at Sovereign Business Park, Barnsley Road, Shepley, as well as manufacturing facilities at Barncliffe Mills, Shelley.

Now it is seeking a 7,000sq ft to 10,000sq ft building which the firm said would enable it to increase efficiency by 50% as it looks to develop export sales this year.

Managing director David Elliott said: “We want to stay in Kirklees and we want to have everything on a single site. We also want to buy rather than rent. The problem is there doesn’t seem to be too many places to buy, but hundreds to rent.

“We have staff who live on the south side of Sheffield as well as in Huddersfield and Wakefield. We don’t want to move too far from where we are because some of our staff might find it difficult to stay with us – and they are skilled people who are talented enough to find work elsewhere.”

The hunt for new premises comes as Wellhouse Leisure gears up to take the Ford Terrier into European markets. It has ordered a left-hand drive model to take to Ford across Europe. Wellhouse is also set to take its products to Ford in Ireland.

The firm was launched 11 years ago, originally importing base vehicles from Japan for conversion to camper vans. It is now seen as the premier converted of compact camper vans, having worked with Toyota, Volkswagen and Hyundai since that time.

When Hyundai ceased importing into the UK the base vehicle used by Wellhouse, Mr Elliott approached Ford in 2013 about producing a camper van. The resulting Ford Terrier – named to reflect Mr Elliott’s love for Huddersfield Town – was launched at Birmimgham’s NEC in October that year and was named Campervan of the Year for 2014.

Every vehicle has Made in Huddersfield displayed on the tailgate.