Family business Daval Furniture, which has 70 employees, has been providing fitted bedroom furniture for independent retailers for almost 40 years.

In a strategy to compete with cheap foreign imports, the Slaithwaite-based firm developed a production process called Option-i to reduce lead times, provide greater choice for its customers and increase efficiency to drive down costs. The £1.4m investment allowed Daval to reduce waste and production costs associated with bespoke furniture and open up choice and design to the mid-market.

Daval has also increased sales against the backdrop of a flat market and is now a trend leader in kitchens as well as bedrooms.

Also nominated in the category, sponsored by the University of Huddersfield, were Manrochem Ltd and Wellhouse Leisure.

Simon Bodsworth, MD, said: “We have put a lot of investment into innovative technology, but it is the people who make it such a success. We have a team of 70 who we will celebrate with – this gives us great momentum going forward.”