A Huddersfield company is making a splash at the world’s biggest flood prevention exhibition and conference.

The Flood Company is exhibiting at the inaugural Flood Defence & Prevention Expo event, which got under way today at Excel in London.

Luke Ruddiman, managing director and founder of The Flood Company, said: “It marks a huge step forward for us.

“We have grown our business massively over the past year, including adding more products to service the increase in demand from both private and commercial clients.

“We are now operating nationally and have started exporting into Europe,”

The long-awaited exhibition brings together 150 of the most innovative suppliers of flood defence solutions – as well as the brightest minds, engineers and authorities in the industry.

The two-day event – run in partnership with the Environment Agency – features demonstrations of products at the Royal London Docks, a full conference schedule of 80 seminars featuring high profile and influential speakers addressing the hottest topics from the flooding world along with interactive seminars and panel debates.

“We started the business to protect and help households and businesses from the devastating consequences of flooding,” saiid Mr Ruddiman.

“Often the impact is far more devastating than at first realised.

“Our business is focused on providing cost-effective, high-quality flood doors and demountable DIY flood barriers to protect property and homes.

“We manufacture, supply and fit UK-wide and are developing more products to add to our growing range of services.”

The Flood Company has doubled its workforce in recent months and is planning to recruit more sales staff to cope with the extra enquiries.

With fully trained installation teams strategically positioned across the UK, the company has seen growth more than quadruple in under two years.

“Flooding in the UK is a real problem<” said Mr Ruddiman, “There are so many factors that combine to make the risk of flooding ever-more prevalent.

“Despite the best efforts of the environmental agencies that are working so hard to reduce the risks associated with flooding, the onus is heavily placed on the property owner to act responsibly to protect their own properties.

“As our innovative products are tried and tested to a very high standard, including the coveted BSI Kitemark PAS 1188-1:2014, we are seeing a huge increase in demand from construction companies, architects and property developers.

“The Flood Defence and Protection Expo enables us to meet with some of the world’s most respected experts.

“It also gives us the chance to meet with other larger customers all under one roof.”