Severn Unival

BUSINESS is booming for an engineering firm supplying the biggest names in the gas and oil industries.

Severn Unival is a highly-specialised company designing, manufacturing and servicing valves for the North Sea oil and gas industries and further afield.

Since January, 2008, annual turnover has almost doubled and employee numbers have expanded by 10%. The future looks promising with a healthy order book though to the end of 2010.

Director Colin Findlay said: "Innovation and flexibility are central to Severn Unival’s philosophy and these values underpin its structure and working practices as well as products and services.

"It is this approach to business, combined with a pedigree in specialist work, strong leadership and a highly skilled workforce that helps the business continue to thrive.

"There are plans for further growth and investment and the business is set to bring further benefits to Huddersfield’s economy in coming years."

Underlining the company’s reputation for being at the forefront of valve technology, Severn Unival launched Transform, advancing its Performance+ system to enable historic data to be stored and analysed to help with future valve maintenance and specification.

Said Mr Findlay: "Transform plays a vital role in our ability to provide products and services which break the mould and allow continual improvement in performance and profitability for clients.

The company employs 134 people at premises in Milford Street, Huddersfield.

newsholme Food Group

A FAMILY firm in Huddersfield has grown to become one of the UK’s leading suppliers of sausages and cooked meats.

Newsholme Food Group, which dates back to 1950, delivers its products across the UK and is now exporting to Europe and beyond.

Earlier this year, the company celebrated the completion of a new 50,000sq ft extension at its premises in New Hey Road, Oakes.

Shadow Business Secretary Ken Clarke officially opened the £2.5m extension, which also created 25 jobs for the company.

More than 100 customers, suppliers and other guests attended the event, which included the unveiling of a plaque.

Newsholme aims to increase turnover from almost £30m to £50m in the next two years through its well-established Country Park Foods brand as well as frozen ready meals operations CPS Foods and Oakes Fine Foods.

It also has a distribution network supplying products throughout the UK and Europe.

However, the company has never forgotten its roots or its values.

The firm, launched as T E Newsholme Ltd, was founded by Trevor Newsholme with a single butcher’s shop in Huddersfield town centre.

Today, it employs nine members of the Newsholme family and has a 200-strong workforce.

Financial director Jeremy Thwaite said: "We believe our success is down to our heritage and culture.

"We started out as a small family-owned business making quality bespoke products and treating our customers the way we like to be treated ourselves.

"More than half a century later and our high quality standards have not changed one bit.

"We also believe that our business sends out positive signals to the local business community.

"Growth is possible and ambitious plans can become a reality."

Buy it Direct Ltd

A FAST-GROWING online retailer in Huddersfield is making its mark.

Buy it Direct Ltd has featured on the Sunday Times Fast Track 11 three years running – under its current name and former name of Easy Computers.

The company, based at Trident Business Park, off Leeds Road, Deighton, supplies discount electricals and appliances, specialising in laptops and PCs, servers, televisions, kitchen appliances, CCTV and portable air conditioning.

It sells to individuals, re-sellers, schools and colleges, universities and small to medium-sized businesses via the website, phone and showrooms.

Owner Nick Glynne took over the business in 2000 and decided to focus on selling laptops online. It is now the largest supplier in its sector in the UK with 10 employees and projected turnover of £100m this year.

The company ships out thousands of items every month from its head office and warehouse in Huddersfield.

One of the secrets of its success is to acquire distressed businesses, such as Trade Appliances, an online kitchen appliance retailer, which Buy it Direct bought in 2008. The website was back up and running within days of the firm going into administration and the division now makes a significant contribution with turnover running at £22m.

The latest move was the launch of Servers Direct to provide small businesses with a one-stop shop for servers and network technology, affordable IT support and management.

Said Nick: "In a year which has been seen as doom and gloom, we’ve managed to successfully grow our business and recruit 15 more members of staff by securing contracts to refurbish returned laptops from other companies, buying struggling businesses and turning them round and focusing on discount prices and customer services.

"We’re predicting a prosperous Christmas 2009 and looking forward to continued success in 2010."